Calcium uptake by developing apple fruits. II. The role of spur leaves

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Abstract
Summary The effect on fruit Ca uptake of transpiration from spur leaves and associated bourse shoots was investigated. Total transpiration from the spur was altered by removing some or all the leaves or by enclosing leaves in polyethylene bags. These treatments greatly reduced the rate of Ca uptake by the developing apple fruits, while having only small effects on fruit growth and the accumulation of other minerals. The effect of defoliation tended to be greatest early in the fruit growth period. When spurs from equivalent parts of the tree were compared, fruits associated with long bourse shoots had higher Ca concentrations than those with short ones. These results support the hypothesis that adequate evaporation from the primary leaves is crucial to achieving high levels of fruit Ca.

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