Influence of in-season foliar calcium sprays on fruit quality and surface discoloration incidence of peaches and nectarines

Foliar calcium sprays applied every 14 days, starting two weeks after full bloom and continuing until one week before harvest, did not reduce surface discoloration or increase fruit quality of mid- or late-season peach and ne ctarine cultivars. Multiple commercial calcium foliar sprays did not affect fruit soluble solids concentration (SSC), fruit firmness, fruit internal b reakdown, and fruit flesh calcium concentration at harvest. Calcium concent ration in the skin of the fruit was raised in three of the four varieties s tudied, leaf calcium was increased in two of the late cultivars.