Biostimulants affect the quality and yield of tomato fruits from open-field production

Two bio-stimulants, “AminoVital” (Biofa AG, Germany) and “Equisetum Plus” (Biofa AG, Germany), were applied by spraying weekly on two cultivars of beef-tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicon L.) ‘German Gold’ with yellowish fruits, and ‘Olena Ukrainian’ with red fruits.
Both cultivars are registered for organic vegetable production and are regarded as effective in “strengthening” the vitality of crops.
The trial was arranged under open field conditions without protection in two rows with a distance of 1×1 m.
Three replicates were randomly dispersed.
Plants were managed according to good organic practice and drip-irrigated.
Fruit-set, number of harvested fruits, fresh-weights, total harvest, and pests and diseases were monitored.
Contents of ascorbic acid, lycopene, and β-carotene were determined.
Results displayed significant differences in several parameters between the bio-stimulants-treatments and cultivars. “Equisetum Plus” application exhibited high resistance, stable growth, and fruits with few rots.
Also, the content of bioactive compounds appeared significantly higher. “AminoVital” showed positive and negative effects on plants and harvest.
Therefore, we suggest it should only be applied on leaves by spraying and in lower concentrations.

VII South-Eastern Europe Symposium on Vegetables and Potatoes

J. Balas, A. Keutgen, E. Herzog

Solanum Lycopersicon, organic vegetable production, anti-oxidant compounds, ascorbic acid, lycopene, carotene

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1326.12