This experiment was performed during 2003 and 2004 seasons. "Anna" apple
trees were sprayed with PacJobutrazol (PB) 250 ppm or 500 ppm, 40 or 80 days after full
bloom (FB), control ones were untreated. Mature fruits of each experimental trees, were
picked and subjected to the following postharvest dip treatments for 4 minutes: 3% CaCI2
solution either under 350 mbar vacuum (Vac.) or not; hot water at 40°C (H.W) or tap water
(as a control for dip treatments). Thereafter, fruits were stored at 3°C and 85-90% RH for
75 days. The results indicated that, in both seasons, as the storage period advanced, fruit
shelf life period and V.C, malic acid contents and non reducing sugars and mineral
elements % (N, P, K and Mg), significantly decreased, while the percentages of weight
loss, disorders, reducing and total sugars, significantly increased. Neither PB preharvest
spray, nor postharvest dip treatments, each alone influenced the storability of "Anna" fruits
as same as the combination of two together. Combination treatments had a great effect on
decreasing fruit weight loss and disorders %, beside increasing shelf life period and malic
acid, reducing and total sugars content. However, that effect was not clearly noticed on
V.C, non reducing sugars and mineral elements contents. Moreover, the fruit disorders
were appeared for first time at 30 days of storage in fruits treated with postharvest dip
treatments alone or those from untreated trees, while they did not notice even at 45 days
of storage in fruits treated with PB 250 ppm (at both application times) + anyone of
postharvest dip treatments. The rest treatments showed fruit disorders at 45 days of cold
storage. CaCI2 postharvest dip treatments especially under vacuum, were more
effective on improving storability, than hot water treatment, when combined with PB
preharvest spray treatments. Generally, all PB treatments (when were used alone)
almost had the same effect on improving storability of "Anna" fruits. Despite, the
earlier application (FB+40days) was more effective on reducing fruit disorders %.