This work aimed to evaluate the efficiency of fruit bagging with different materials on the protection of apples against pests and diseases, as well as its influence on the quality, maturity and calcium (Ca) content of apple fruit. The experiment was carried out in 2007/2008 and 2008/2009, in an organic apple orchard located at São Joaquim region, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Ten year-old 'Fuji Suprema' apple trees grafted on 'Marubakaido' rootstock, with a 'EM-9' interstem, had their fruits bagged with a transparent micro-holed plastic and non-textured fabric bags. Fruits were bagged right after hand-thinning, from nearly 40 days after flowering until harvesting. The control treatment consisted of unbagged fruit. At harvest, fruits were assessed for damages caused by fruit-fly (Anastrepha fraterculus), oriental fruit moth (Grapholita molesta) and apple leafroller (Bonagota salubricola). The incidence of apple scab (Venturia inaequalis), bitter rot (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides), and moldy core (Alternaria sp.; Fusarium sp.) diseases, and of physiological disorders (russeting and bitter pit) were also assessed. The physico-chemical attributes of maturity and quality, and fruit Ca content were evaluated. Regardless of the bag material used, bagged fruit were protected against insect damages, but not against diseases caused by the evaluated fungus. In 2008/2009, bagged fruit showed a significantly higher Ca content and lower incidence of bitter pit and higher incidence of russeting than the control treatment. Bagging advanced fruit maturity, especially in transparent micro-holed plastic, and reduced skin red color, mainly in non-textured fabric bag.
Agroecology; physico-chemical quality; Malus domestica; pests and diseases management
