Calcium and magnesium interactions in browning of ‘Golden Delicious’ apples with bitter pit

The role of Ca and Mg in the enzymatic browning of ‘Golden Delicious’ apples was explored. Enzymatic browning due to polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was stimulated with the addition of 0.8–10 mM MgCl₂ to the reaction mixture, whereas 0.8–10 mM CaCl₂ had little effect or decreased the rate of enzymatic browning. Within a week after vacuum infiltration with MgCl₂, treated fruits exhibited browning symptoms that were similar to bitter pit. Six months after vacuum infiltration, when analyzed for enzyme activity, MgCl₂-treated fruits exhibited higher rates of PPO activity, whereas CaCl₂-treated fruits had lower activity than the MgCl₂-treated fruits and the controls. A hypothesis is advanced that the initial visible symptoms of bitter pit, i.e. the localized browning, is caused by PPO, its activity being stimulated by the localized Mg/Ca imbalance present in the tissue. The results indicate that Ca is predominant in the prevention of this disorder, whereas a deficiency of Ca is involved in its induction.