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Fruit yield of field‐grown pear Pyrus communis (L) exposed to different levels of rain acidity in tuscany
Author(s) -
Rinallo C,
Modi G
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740680108
Subject(s) - pear , pyrus communis , horticulture , chemistry , cultivar , acid rain , nitrogen , cadmium , pulp (tooth) , field experiment , botany , agronomy , biology , medicine , organic chemistry , pathology
Abstract The effects of simulated acid rain and natural rainfall on the pear cultivar Doyenne du Comice were studied in field experiments in Tuscany. Groups of trees were exposed to natural rainfall, or shielded and treated once weekly with 6 mm applications of one of three simulated rain treatments (pH 5·6, 4·0 and 3·0) or with deionised water (pH 6·5), during the prebloom to harvest period (March‐August) of 1991 and 1992. Increasing the concentration of acid sprays reduced the percentage of fruit harvested, fresh weight, dry weight, mineral concentrations in the pulp, and the pH of the juices; and increased heavy metal concentrations, total acidity, and nitrogen content. Fruits treated with the more acidic sprays also showed necrotic spotting. The effects of the pH 5·6 spray and natural rainfall were similar and mostly not significant, though lead and cadmium levels were significantly higher with natural rainfall exposure than with the pH 5·6 spray. These findings suggest that a further reduction in natural rainfall pH in Tuscany could have serious consequences for pear yield and quality.