DETERMINATION OF THE EFFECT OF SILICON FOLIAR APPLICATION ON THE QUALITY AND POST HARVEST RESISTANCE OF SWEET CHERRY.

Sweet cherry is a very sensitive fruit. It is essential to ensure quality fruit production during cultivation. In sweet cherries, it is possible to prevent fruit loss by increasing the quality and post-harvest strength through pre-harvest applications during cultivation. The use of silicon can positively affect fruit quality in the harvest and post-harvest stages. In this study, calcium silicate (Ca2SiO3), potassium silicate (K2SiO3), and silicon dioxide (SiO2) were applied thrice to the cherry trees, at doses of 5 mM, 10 mM, and 15 mM. Measurements and analyses of the fruits were performed during and after the harvest, after two days of shelf life. The other fruits were stored using modified atmosphere packaging, at 0 ± 0.5°C and 90%-95% relative humidity for 2 and 21 days, and the quality characteristics were determined after two days of shelf life. Coloration progresses during ripening in cherries, with a decrease in C* and h° values. The chlorophyll content in the leaves increased with the application of silicon K2SiO3 which also increased fruit firmness. Silicon application in cherries increases the fruit's weight and size as well as the amount of total soluble solids and phenol content, especially 5 mM and 10 mM SiO2 applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]