Calcium chloride in preharvest application to control the natural fruit dropping of ‘FHIA-18’ banana tree

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of CaCl application in preharvest and in different doses and times in order to control the natural fruit dropping of banana ‘FHIA-18’. The experimental design was in a randomized blocks, in a factorial scheme 3x3+1 control, with three doses of CaCl (2, 4 and 6%), three times of application (60, 90 and 120 days) after the bunch emission, with five replicates and one plant per parcel. A linear decrease of dropping resistance and fruit time maturation with increasing doses of CaCl was observed. The fruits showed to be more consistent with three applications of CaCl. The calcium content of the peel and pulp were not significantly changed with the doses and applications of CaCl, indicating that calcium is not absorbed effectively bythe fruits. The application of CaCl in preharvest do not reduce the natural fruit dropping in banana ‘FHIA-18’.