Reflective Particle Films Affected on, Sunburn, Yield, Mineral Composition and Fruit Maturity of ʹAnnaʹ Apple (Malus domestica)Trees.

This experiment was conducted during 2008 and 2009 seasons on 10 years old ʹAnnaʹ apple cultivar on MM /106 rootstocks grown at Al-Nubaria region, Behira government. Two reflective films (RF) were applied at three concentrations two times, after fruit setting and 4 weeks before commercial harvest date with an air-blast sprayer, and control treatment (without reflective film).The reflective film treatments were 1%, 2% and 3% kaolin clay; 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% Silica gel. Results of this study revealed that reflective films sprayed on apple trees increased significantly the leaf area and level of light reflected from the leaves, while decreased the percentages of fruit sunburn. Also, particle reflective films show high positive leaf and fruit contents of N, Ca and Mg response to RF than trees no RF and reduced with increasing the concentrations of RF. Furthermore, the color response to RF was greatest with reflective film treatments, while not affected on fruit firmness, length and diameter of fruits. Also, the FR seemed to be increased fruit weight as well as yield as compared with no-RF treatment. Generally RF treatments delayed maturation and this appear in decreased TSS, total sugars and the increase in acidity and starch content.