The Effect of Calcium on Respiration of Apples1

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Abstract
Respiration of apples was inversely related to Ca content of flesh. Respiration increased markedly if Ca concn was below 110 ppm. High N levels also increased respiration. High Ca successfully counteracted the N effect and kept the respiration at a low level. When N was supplied as ammonium, respiration was higher than when a similar quantity of N was supplied as nitrate. Calcium counteracted the increased respiration induced by ammonium-N. Low Ca fruit lost 30-70% of its capacity to synthetize proteins and nucleic acids as measured by the incorporation of labelled valine and uracil. Low-Ca fruit was also high in ethanol insoluble solids, the major portion of which was probably cellulose. The effect of Ca on respiration can explain the negative relation between certain disorders (internal breakdown and watercore) characterized by overmaturity and Ca content of fruit.

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