Articles
Exploring biostimulant applications on small fruits: a case-study involving open-field grown raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.)
Article number
1444_27
Pages
203 – 210
Language
English
Abstract
Improving environmental, social, and economic sustainability in horticulture represents a crucial challenge that needs to be addressed with the utmost priority.
Recently, biostimulants have been broadly investigated to reduce fertilizer and chemical inputs.
Such products have been reported to successfully enhance productivity and quality while improving plants’ adaptability to abiotic stresses.
Despite their potential usefulness, many constraints prevent biostimulants from being effectively implemented; therefore, there is still considerable room for research to define the best practices for biostimulant application in horticultural crops.
In this context, small fruits have been poorly considered, and the suitability of biostimulants for their cultivation still needs to be thoroughly explored.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of biostimulant application on raspberry, which was pursued by conducting a trial in an open-field orchard in central Italy.
The trial involved two double-bearing raspberry cultivars, namely ‘Autumn Bliss’ and ‘Zeva’. Plants were treated with three biostimulants through foliar spraying; treatment-related effects were assessed by monitoring eco-physiological parameters (chlorophyll, anthocyanins, and flavonols content, photosynthetic fluorescence, Nitrogen Balance Index), along with fruit yield and quality traits.
Biostimulants did not significantly influence values regarding eco-physiological parameters when compared to untreated bushes; however, one biostimulant appeared to prompt vegetative growth on ‘Autumn Bliss’ plants, resulting in slightly lower productivity in comparison to the other treatments.
Analyses concerning quality traits highlighted some effects to be ascribed to biostimulant application both in ‘Autumn Bliss’ and ‘Zeva’ raspberries.
The present work provides meaningful insights into the possible implementation of plant biostimulants in raspberry cultivation, thereby contributing to shedding light on the feasibility of this practice for a species that has been poorly considered within the scientific debate around biostimulants in horticulture.
Recently, biostimulants have been broadly investigated to reduce fertilizer and chemical inputs.
Such products have been reported to successfully enhance productivity and quality while improving plants’ adaptability to abiotic stresses.
Despite their potential usefulness, many constraints prevent biostimulants from being effectively implemented; therefore, there is still considerable room for research to define the best practices for biostimulant application in horticultural crops.
In this context, small fruits have been poorly considered, and the suitability of biostimulants for their cultivation still needs to be thoroughly explored.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of biostimulant application on raspberry, which was pursued by conducting a trial in an open-field orchard in central Italy.
The trial involved two double-bearing raspberry cultivars, namely ‘Autumn Bliss’ and ‘Zeva’. Plants were treated with three biostimulants through foliar spraying; treatment-related effects were assessed by monitoring eco-physiological parameters (chlorophyll, anthocyanins, and flavonols content, photosynthetic fluorescence, Nitrogen Balance Index), along with fruit yield and quality traits.
Biostimulants did not significantly influence values regarding eco-physiological parameters when compared to untreated bushes; however, one biostimulant appeared to prompt vegetative growth on ‘Autumn Bliss’ plants, resulting in slightly lower productivity in comparison to the other treatments.
Analyses concerning quality traits highlighted some effects to be ascribed to biostimulant application both in ‘Autumn Bliss’ and ‘Zeva’ raspberries.
The present work provides meaningful insights into the possible implementation of plant biostimulants in raspberry cultivation, thereby contributing to shedding light on the feasibility of this practice for a species that has been poorly considered within the scientific debate around biostimulants in horticulture.
Authors
F. Giovanelli, C. Silvestri, V. Cristofori
Keywords
horticulture, small fruits, berries, sustainability, plant growth regulation
Groups involved
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Working Group Vaccinium Species and Management
- Working Group Rubus and Ribes Species and Management
- Working Group Kiwifruit Culture and Management
- Working Group Strawberry Culture and Management
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