Pathways and factors in calcium uptake through the skins of strawberry fruit

Abstract High levels of fruit calcium (Ca) in strawberry are associated with low levels of surface disorders, including water soaking. Because of the dysfunctional xylem in developing strawberry, fruit Ca can only be increased by spray application. The objectives were to quantify 45Ca uptake through...

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Main Authors: Grecia Hurtado, Simon Sitzenstock, Kristian Pineda, Moritz Knoche
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15749-4
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author Grecia Hurtado
Simon Sitzenstock
Kristian Pineda
Moritz Knoche
author_facet Grecia Hurtado
Simon Sitzenstock
Kristian Pineda
Moritz Knoche
author_sort Grecia Hurtado
collection DOAJ
description Abstract High levels of fruit calcium (Ca) in strawberry are associated with low levels of surface disorders, including water soaking. Because of the dysfunctional xylem in developing strawberry, fruit Ca can only be increased by spray application. The objectives were to quantify 45Ca uptake through the fruit surface from drying spray droplets. Uptake of 45CaCl2 was initially rapid but slowed down after droplet drying. There was no difference in Ca uptake through the rim between achene depressions and that through the achene depressions. The uptake of 45CaCl2 increased with fruit development and with increasing spray concentration. Uptake was highest for CaCl2 and Ca(NO3)2, but was lower for organic salts. The surfactants Glucopon (0.01%) and Triton X-100 (0.1%) increased Ca uptake. Increased temperature and increased relative humidity increased Ca uptake. Incubating ripe strawberries for 1 h in deionized water increased microcracking. Despite the increased microcracking 45CaCl2 uptake did not increase. Spray applications of 30 mM in the greenhouse increased fruit Ca content and decreased susceptibility to water soaking. Our study establishes that strawberry fruit take up Ca very readily from surface sprays of either CaCl2 or Ca(NO3)2. Increases in fruit Ca decrease susceptibility to water soaking.
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issn 2045-2322
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spelling doaj-art-a7daec9ceedd4635a25ef29020afab162025-08-20T04:02:46ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-15749-4Pathways and factors in calcium uptake through the skins of strawberry fruitGrecia Hurtado0Simon Sitzenstock1Kristian Pineda2Moritz Knoche3Institute of Horticultural Production Systems, Leibniz University HanoverInstitute of Horticultural Production Systems, Leibniz University HanoverInstitute of Horticultural Production Systems, Leibniz University HanoverInstitute of Horticultural Production Systems, Leibniz University HanoverAbstract High levels of fruit calcium (Ca) in strawberry are associated with low levels of surface disorders, including water soaking. Because of the dysfunctional xylem in developing strawberry, fruit Ca can only be increased by spray application. The objectives were to quantify 45Ca uptake through the fruit surface from drying spray droplets. Uptake of 45CaCl2 was initially rapid but slowed down after droplet drying. There was no difference in Ca uptake through the rim between achene depressions and that through the achene depressions. The uptake of 45CaCl2 increased with fruit development and with increasing spray concentration. Uptake was highest for CaCl2 and Ca(NO3)2, but was lower for organic salts. The surfactants Glucopon (0.01%) and Triton X-100 (0.1%) increased Ca uptake. Increased temperature and increased relative humidity increased Ca uptake. Incubating ripe strawberries for 1 h in deionized water increased microcracking. Despite the increased microcracking 45CaCl2 uptake did not increase. Spray applications of 30 mM in the greenhouse increased fruit Ca content and decreased susceptibility to water soaking. Our study establishes that strawberry fruit take up Ca very readily from surface sprays of either CaCl2 or Ca(NO3)2. Increases in fruit Ca decrease susceptibility to water soaking.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15749-4CaPenetrationFragaria × ananassaCuticleSurfactantHygroscopicity
spellingShingle Grecia Hurtado
Simon Sitzenstock
Kristian Pineda
Moritz Knoche
Pathways and factors in calcium uptake through the skins of strawberry fruit
Scientific Reports
Ca
Penetration
Fragaria × ananassa
Cuticle
Surfactant
Hygroscopicity
title Pathways and factors in calcium uptake through the skins of strawberry fruit
title_full Pathways and factors in calcium uptake through the skins of strawberry fruit
title_fullStr Pathways and factors in calcium uptake through the skins of strawberry fruit
title_full_unstemmed Pathways and factors in calcium uptake through the skins of strawberry fruit
title_short Pathways and factors in calcium uptake through the skins of strawberry fruit
title_sort pathways and factors in calcium uptake through the skins of strawberry fruit
topic Ca
Penetration
Fragaria × ananassa
Cuticle
Surfactant
Hygroscopicity
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15749-4
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AT simonsitzenstock pathwaysandfactorsincalciumuptakethroughtheskinsofstrawberryfruit
AT kristianpineda pathwaysandfactorsincalciumuptakethroughtheskinsofstrawberryfruit
AT moritzknoche pathwaysandfactorsincalciumuptakethroughtheskinsofstrawberryfruit