*2.2. Forms of Calcium and Boron Application*

Calcium treatments of 100 mL of a 0.05 M CaCl2 (Fisher Scientific, Watham, MA, USA) were applied every second day for four weeks as a soil drench. For pectin solutions prepared with calcium or boron, 0.05 M of CaCl2 or H3BO3 were added directly during the preparation of the pectin solution to ensure homogeneity.
