Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Localized calcium (Ca) deficiencies frequently develop independent from total Ca supply and total fruit Ca concentration. Bulk mineral analyses is therefore not completely suitable for determination of the susceptibility of fruit in developing Ca-linked fruit physiological disorders like bitter pit, as it supplies insufficient information regarding the spatial accumulation of Ca within the fruit. Additional Ca is applied either as soil or foliar applications, where soil applications are applied either after fruit set (pre-harvest) or in the period after harvest. The contribution of these different methods of Ca application to the total Ca concentration in "Braeburn" fruit was quantified over three consecutive growing seasons. Foliar applications have been proven to be successful in suppressing bitter pit development and improving the Ca status of the fruit. The effectiveness of different formulations of foliar Ca products in influencing these parameters was also determined. Furthermore, the distribution pattern of fruit Ca resulting from different application strategies was mapped using particle induced X-ray emission technology. In the "Braeburn" trial, mineral analyses indicated no significant differences between treatments in terms of Ca concentration at 80 days after full bloom (dafb). However, when soil applications occurred with active root growth (visually monitored), treatments differed significantly 80 dafb. Weekly foliar Ca applications from 28 dafb resulted in higher fruit Ca concentrations 80 dafb than a pre-harvest soil Ca application (January, 2010). A possible explanation for the inefficiency of pre-harvest soil Ca is the disintegration of xylem vessels from 40 dafb (before root uptake) for sensitive cultivars such as Braeburn. Bitter pit initiation has been shown to occur in the earlier part of the season. This, together with a reduced Ca supply to the fruit early in the season due to xylem disintegration (for sensitive cultivars), indicates the importance of early season foliar Ca applications. PIXE analyses were used to establish the radial Ca distribution in apples. Ca was concentrated in the skin and core, with very low values in the outer cortex. PIXE results indicated fruit Ca concentrations to be the lowest in the pre-harvest soil application treatment. This was in agreement with mineral analyses results. Ca enriched areas resulting from effective Ca delivery via the vascular bundles, had a profound effect on fruit Ca concentrations in the immediate core and cortex. At harvest, this effect was much more subtle and emphasizes the importance of untimely xylem rupturing on eventual fruit Ca concentration. At 80 dafb, treatments where foliar Ca was applied showed higher Ca concentrations in the outer cortex (where symptoms of bitter pit typically occur). Calflo™ fruit had significantly higher Ca concentrations in "Braeburn" compared to fruits from Foliar GS™ and GG™ treatments. Calflo™ and Calcimax™ had a higher active Ca percentage (12%) compared to Foliar GSTM and GGTM (10%). Adding the Lecithin™ (surfactant) to Calcimax™ is not recommended as it did not improve its uptake. In "Golden Delicious", the commercial spray program of seven, weekly foliar applications (Calcinit™) resulted in fruit with significantly higher Ca concentrations compared to other treatments. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kalsium (Ca) tekorte ontstaan gewoonlik in gelokaliseerde areas in die appelvrug en ontwikkel dikwels ten spyte van voldoende totale vrug Ca. Minerale analises van heel vrugte verskaf dus nie genoeg inligting aangaande die verspreiding van Ca in die vrug wanneer die ontwikkelling van fisiologiese defekte soos bitterpit ter sprake is nie. Addisionele Ca word gewoonlik aangewend as blaar- of grondtoedienings, waar grondtoedienings tipies voor-oes (net na set) of in die na-oes periode, toegedien word. Die bydraes van die verskillende toedieningsmetodes tot die totale Ca konsentrasie van "Braeburn" appels is geëvalueer oor drie agtereenvolgende seisoene. Blaartoedienings van Ca word algemeen gebruik om die voorkoms van bitterpit te beheer en die Ca konsentrasie van die vrug te verhoog. Die effektiwiteit van `n reeks blaartoedienings-produkte om hierdie faktore te verbeter, is ook ondersoek. Die spesifieke verspreiding van die Ca in die vrug is gekarteer na gelang van elke toediening deur middel van PIXE-analises (Particle induced X-ray emission). In die "Braeburn" proef was daar geen beduidende verskille in terme van vrug Ca konsentrasie op 80 dnvb (dae na volblom) nie. Daarteenoor, was daar wel beduidende verskille by 80 dnvb toe grond toedienings saam met aktiewe wortelgroei geskied het (visuele inspeksie). Weeklikse blaartoedienings vanaf 21 dnvb het gelei tot vrugte met betekenisvol hoër Ca konsentrasies as die behandeling waar grondtoedienings slegs voor-oes geskied het (Januarie 2010). `n Moontlike oorsaak vir die oneffektiwiteit van voor-oes grondtoedings is die vroeë disintigrasie van xileem vesels in die vrug (soms voor 40 dnvb en voor die aanvang van wortelopname) in sensitiewe kultivars soos "Braeburn". Hierdie vroeë inhibering van Ca voorsiening, tesame met die vroeë inisiasie van bitterpit, beklemtoon die belangrikheid van blaarbespuitings vroeg in die seisoen. Die PIXE-analises wat aangewend is om die radiale verspreiding van Ca in die vrug te bepaal het getoon dat Ca meestal in die skil en kern van die vrug gekonsentreer was, met baie lae konsentrasies in die buitenste korteks. Die laagste Ca konsentrasies is waargeneem in vrugte van die behandeling waar voor-oes Ca slegs as `n grondtoediening geskied het. Hierdie waarneming is in ooreenstemming met die mineraalanalise resultate. Ca verykte areas, afkomstig van die naby geleë vaatbundels (xileem vesels), het egter die grootste effek op vrug Ca konsentrasie gehad. Hierdie effek was nie so groot by oes nie en beklemtoon dus die belangrikheid van die funksionaliteit van die vaatbundels. Blaartoedienings kon die Ca konsentrasie in die buitenste korteks suksesvol verhoog - waar simptome van bitterpit tipies voorkom. Die Calflo™ behandeling het beduidende hoër Ca konsentrasies gehad as die Foliar GS™ en GG™ behandelings. Die Calflo™ en Calcimax™ behandelings het `n hoër aktiewe Ca persentasie (12%) relatief tot die Foliar GS™ en GG™ (10%) behandelings bevat. Die byvoeging van Lecithin™ by Calcimax™ word nie aanbeveel nie, omdat dit geensins Ca opname vermeerder het nie. In die "Golden Delicious" proef het die kommersiële behandeling (Sewe weeklikse spuite van Calcinit™) gelei tot vrugte met die hoogste Ca konsentrasie van al die behandelings.

Iodine is an essential nutrient for humans, which is often not ingested through food in adequate quantities. Currently, Germany is once again one of the countries in which there is an iodine deficiency in the population. Women between the ages of 20 and 40 are particularly affected, a critical situation since pregnant and lactating women have an increased iodine requirement. Iodization of table salt is a widely used prophylactic measure. However, this method is not sufficient and may become less important in the future if further dietary salt reduction occurs, as nutritionists are demanding. Alternative approaches are therefore needed to improve the supply. One of these approaches is the agronomic biofortification of food crops. In this process, iodine is applied via fertilization measures during the cultivation of the plants. This gives the plants the ability to take up the mineral, which is only available in the soil to a very limited extent. In recent years, many studies have been published on the biofortification of vegetables and cereals. Foliar fertilization measures have proven to be significantly more efficient than soil fertilization measures. Nevertheless, up to now few results are available on the biofortification of fruit crops. However, fruit is also important for a healthy diet and the iodine supply of humans can only be improved if as many iodine-rich foods as possible are available. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate iodine biofortification of berry and tree fruit species in more detail. In order to be able to achieve this objective, trials were performed over several years with strawberries, apple and pear trees. In addition to suitable application methods, the aim was to determine the iodine form (iodide and iodate) and the necessary iodine quantity. On the one hand, the measured iodine contents in the fruit and leaf tissue allowed conclusions to be drawn about the translocation of iodine in the plant. On the other hand, this made it possible to evaluate the basic suitability for iodine biofortification of the fruit crops investigated. Since iodine has a phytotoxic effect above a certain amount, the plant compatibility should also be tested. In addition, common household processing methods, such as washing or peeling the fruit, as well as fruit storage over several months, should provide information on the extent to which such measures could reduce the iodine content. Another study parameter was the soluble solids content, as there is evidence that iodine can affect the sugar content of fruit. Furthermore, a combined application of potassium nitrate and selenium was carried out and their influence on iodine and sugar content was investigated. Selenium is also an essential trace element, which is usually inadequately absorbed through the diet. The results of the investigations showed that it was possible, in principle, to raise the iodine content of strawberries, apples and pears to a level of 50 to 100 µg iodine per 100 g fresh mass. In the case of strawberries, however, this was only feasible if the plants were in their first year of cultivation and the iodine was applied by foliar fertilization shortly before harvest. In the 2nd and 3rd year of cultivation, the plants had a very dense canopy, which prevented direct wetting of the fruit. However, direct wetting of the fruit surface with the iodine solution is imperative, as this was the only way to achieve a reliably high iodine content in the fruit mass. Soil fertilization proved to be completely unsuitable in trials with strawberries and apple trees. The translocation of iodine after soil fertilization occurred mainly via the xylem transport into the strongly transpiring leaves and not into the fruits. In addition, compared to a foliar application, a significantly higher iodine application rate was required. Furthermore, experiments with apple trees cultivated in a plastic tunnel, protected from precipitation, showed that the iodine transfer via the phloem into the fruits was only marginal. With regard to the phytotoxic effect of iodine application, no consistent difference was observed between potassium iodide and potassium iodate. Both forms of iodine did not affect yield or average individual fruit weight. Damage to fruit was not observed in any variant. However, with increasing iodine levels, significant damage to leaves was noticeable. Apple and pear trees also showed early leaf fall. Iodide generally led to significantly higher iodine contents in the plant mass after foliar application, but this was also associated with high fluctuations. With iodate, it was possible to reliably achieve the targeted iodine content in the fruit mass of apple and pear trees with an application rate of 1.5 kg iodine per hectare and meter canopy height. Washing the fruit reduced the iodine content of strawberries by up to 30%. For apples and pears, this value was about 14% at harvest and about 12% after 3 months of storage. Peeled apples and pears showed a significantly reduced iodine content. 51% of the iodine in apples was bound in the fruit peel or the cuticular waxes. A reduction of 73% was determined for pears. Cold storage for 3 months resulted in a significant loss of iodine in parts of the apple peel. At this point, the release of volatile iodine compounds is probably the cause of the reduction. However, this would still have to be confirmed by further investigations. Iodine application had a negative effect on the soluble solids content of strawberries above a certain level. It was not possible to observe significant changes for pome fruit in the trials conducted. However, the application of potassium nitrate (alone and in combination with iodine) resulted in an increase. Iodine uptake remained unaffected by the combined application of potassium nitrate and selenium. However, it was shown that selenium has a comparable uptake and translocation pattern to iodine and that a combined biofortification with both minerals is, in principle, possible. Accordingly, apple and pear trees are well suited for biofortification with iodine by foliar fertilization. However, further trials in commercial orchards are necessary to implement this process. In the future, appropriately fortified fruit could make an important contribution to the alimentary iodine supply for humans.

Most of the fields planted with clonal tea in Malawi are deficient in micronutrients. This was evident in leaf analysis data collected in 2007 from 170 mature clonal tea fields of some of the tea estates in Malawi, which showed very high incidences of B, Zn and Cu deficiencies. Current fertiliser recommendations have emphasised much on macronutrients, such as N, Pand K, but little attention has been paid to micronutrient elements despite continuous removal through harvesting. A study was therefore conducted to assess the effect of foliar applications of Cu, Zn and B containing fertilisers on yield and quality of mature clonal tea plants. Field experiments were laid out in randomised blocks in two fields planted with cultivars PC 105 and 108 at Mianga and Glenorchy estates in the Mulanje district in Malawi and were replicated four times at each site. The treatments were T1 (control, no spray), T2 [ 0.1% boric acid (190.8g B/ha)], T3 [1% copper sulphate solution (4.35kg Cu/ha)], T4 [1.25kg/ha zinc oxide (1kg Zn /ha)], T5 [0.1% boric acid, 1% copper sulphate solution, 1.25kg/ha zinc oxide], T6 [1% of Commercial micronutrient mix ( N 1.7%, P 2.3%, K 1.6%, Mg 0.25%, Fe 1288 mg/kg, Mn 1005 mg/kg, Zn 2182 mg/kg, Cu 732 mg /kg, B 8202 mg/kg, Mo 3681 mg/kg, kelp extract 75 mg/kg, amino acids 50 g/kg, phytofulvate 50 g/kg)], and T7 [2.48kg/ha zinc sulphate (1kg Zn /ha)]. Micronutrient foliar sprays affected yield significantly at Glenorchy tea estate, but had no significant effect on yield at Mianga estate. Copper sulphate solution applied at 1% concentration decreased yield, but the other foliar applications did not impact yield relative to the control at Glenorchy. Tea quality by taster’s scores was not affected at Mianga estate, whilst at Glenorchy quality was affected, with the commercial micronutrient mix giving the lowest total score. Individual parameters that contributed to the differences in total scores at Glenorchy estate included brightness, briskness, colour of liquor, colour of infusion and colour with milk. Thearubigin (TR) concentration was the only biochemical quality parameter that was affected by the micronutrient foliar sprays. The level of TR was increased in all treatments that received the foliar sprays and the control treatment gave the lowest amount of TRs at both sites. An increase in the Thearubigin/Theaflavin (TR/TF) ratio, obtained in all treatments that received the foliar sprays, provides evidence that more catechins were being converted to TRs than TFs during fermentation. Foliar levels of B, Zn and Cu were raised significantly by the application of the respective foliar sprays, except for the commercial micronutrient mix which did not significantly increase B and Zn levels at both sites, but raised Cu levels to the recommended level only at Mianga, but not at Glenorchy estate. Concentration of Cu was extremely high in tea leaves treated with copper sulphate either alone or in combination with boric acid and zinc oxide. Levels of other nutrient elements, namely N, P, K, S, Zn, Cu, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ca, Fe, B, Al and Na in the soils where different foliar sprays were applied were similar at both sites. Likewise, foliar levels of N, P, K, S, Zn, Cu, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ca, Fe, B, Al and Na were not different in all plots at Mianga, but at Glenorchy differences in foliar levels of Al and S were noted. High concentrations of Al and S in the leaves were observed in plots that received copper sulphate applied alone. High foliar concentrations of Al and Cu in leaves treated with copper sulphate could be the reason for the low yields obtained in the plots treated only with copper sulphate at Glenorchy estate. Foliar application of Cu, Zn and B in forms of 0.1% boric acid (190.8g B/ha)], 1% copper sulphate solution (4.35kg Cu/ha)], [1.25kg/ha zinc oxide (1kg Zn /ha)], 1% of a Commercial micronutrient mix (N 1.7%, P 2.3%, K 1.6%, Mg 0.25%, Fe 1288 mg/kg, Mn 1005 mg/kg, Zn 2182 mg/kg, Cu 732 mg /kg, B 8202 mg/kg, Mo 3681 mg/kg, kelp extract 75 mg/kg, amino acids 50 g/kg, phytofulvate 50 g/kg), and 2.48kg/ha zincsulphate (1kg Zn /ha) to mature clonal tea did not significantly increase yields and tea tasters scores, therefore their application to clonal tea with the aim of improving yield and quality may not be necessary. Results from this study indicated that clonal tea, specifically cultivars (PC 108 and PC 105), could not give positive results in terms of yield and quality of tea due to foliar application of Cu, Zn and B within the first season of application. However, if application is aimed at raising concentrations of Cu, Zn, and B, then boric acid, zinc sulphate, zinc oxide and the commercial micronutrient mix may be used without negatively affecting yield and quality of tea significantly. Copper sulphate however, at the application concentration and frequency used, should not be done because of the observed yield decline in copper sulphate treated plots. More prolonged research is required to determine if long term applications can correct perceived deficiencies and increase yield. / Dissertation (MSc(Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted