THE EFFECT OF IAA AND TIBA ON CALCIUM TRANSPORT AND ACCUMULATION IN FRUITS

IAA and TIBA were applied to individual fruits of apple trees and pepper plants. The apples were harvested three weeks after the last application of the growth regulators and analyzed for calcium content. The results showed that IAA increased and TIBA decreased the relative calcium content (in percent of dry weight) but did not change the absolute calcium content per fruit because both growth regulators also modified the fruit size and weight. On peppers, the same effect of IAA and TIBA on calcium accumulation were observed after 72 hours of ⁴⁵Ca transport without apparent effect of the growth regulators on fruit size. With the experimental system used on peppers, it was also shown that IAA increased, - and TIBA decreased -, the ⁴⁵Ca content of both the fruit and whole plant material.