Effect of Plant Biostimulants on Fruit Set, Yield, and Quality Attributes of “Farbaly” Apricot Cultivar

Authors: A. Tarantino, F. Lops, G. Disciglio, E. Tarantino

Abstract:

Apulia region (southern Italy) is excellent for heavy production of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.). Fruit quality is a combination of physical, chemical and nutritional characteristics. The present experiment was laid in the commercial orchard in Cerignola (Foggia district, Apulia region, 41°15’49’’N; 15°53’59’’E; 126 a.s.l.) during the 2014-2015 season. The experiment consisted of the use of three biostimulant treatments (Hendophyt®, Ergostim® and Radicon®) compared with untreated control on ‘Farbaly’ apricot cultivar, in order to evaluate the vegeto-productive and fruit qualitative attributes. Foliar spray of biostimulants was applied at different times during the growth season (at red ball, fruit setting and fruit development stages). Experimental data showed some specific differences among the biostimulant treatments, which fruit set, growth and productivity were affected. Moderate influences were found regarding the qualitative attributes of fruits. The soluble solid content was positively affected by Hendophyt® treatment. Antioxidant capacity was significantly higher in Hendophyt® and Radicon® treatments respect to the untreated control.

Keywords: Prunus Armeniaca L., biostimulants, fruit set, fruit quality.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1315583

References:

[1] ISTAT 2015. Istituto nazione di Statistica, Produzioni Agricole, 2015 (www.istat.it).
[2] E. Mirzaee, S. Rafiee, A. Keyhani, Z. Eman Djom–eh, 2009. Physical properties of apricot to characterize best post harvesting options. Aust. J. Crop Sci. 3, 95-100.
[3] A.A. Polat, O. Caliskan, 2014. Fruit set and yield of apricot cultivars under subtropical climate condition of Hatay, Turkey, J. Agr. Sci. Tech., 16, 863-872.
[4] A. Kramer, B.A. Twigg, 1966. Fundamentals of Quality Control for the Food Industry, 2nd Edn (Westport: Avi Publishing), pp. 512.
[5] D. Erdogan, M. Guner, E. Dursen, J. Gezer, 2003. Mechanical harvesting apricot. Biosyst. Eng., 85, 19-28.
[6] E.A. Baldwin, 2002. Fruit flavor: volatile metabolism and consumer perceptions in: Fruit Quality and its Biological Basis (Knee, M., Ed.). Sheffield Academic Press, Sheffield, HK. 89-106.
[7] P.T. Gardner, T.A.C. White, D.B. McPhail, G.G. Duthie, 2000. The relative contributions of vitamin C, carotenoids and phenolics to the antioxidant potential of fruit juices, Food Chemistry, 68, 471-474.
[8] J.A. Vinson, J. Hao, X. Su, L. Zubik, 1998. Phenol antioxidant quantity and quality in foods: vegetables, Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, 46(9), 3630-3634.
[9] R. Infante, F. Kramer, L. Luchsinger, C. Meneses, D. Aros, 2006. Sensorial postharvest quality evolution in apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) cvs "Palsteyn"and "Grandir". Acta Hort.,717, 321-326.
[10] Biostimulant coalition, 2013. What are biostimolants? http://www.biostimulantcoalition.org/about/
[11] E. Tarantino, D. Disciglio, F. Frabboni, A. Libutti, G. Gatta, A. Gagliardi, A. Tarantino, 2015. Effects of biostimulant application on quali-quantitative characteristics of cauliflower, pepper and fennel crops under organic and conventional fertilization. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Agricultural, Biosystems Science and Engineering. Vol. 9 No 7, 685- 689.
[12] G. Disciglio, L. Frabboni, A. Tarantino, E. Tarantino, 2014. Applying natural fertilizers to herbaceous crops. Journal of Life Science, Vol. 8, No. 6, 504-510.
[13] P. Calvo, L. Nelson, J.W. Kloepper, 2014. Agricultural used of plant biostimulants. Plant Soil, 383, 3-41.
[14] M.A. Fathy, M. Eissa-Fawzia, M.M. Yahia, 2002. Improving growth, yield and fruit quality of 'Desert Red' peach and 'Anna' apple by using some biostimulants. Minia J. Agric. Res. & Develop. 22 (4), 519–534.
[15] M. Eissa-Fawzia, M.A. Fathi, S.A. El Shall, 2007. Response of peach and apricot seedlings to humic acid treatment under salinity condition. J. Agric. Sci. Mansoura Univ. 32(5), 3605–3620.
[16] M.A. Fathy, M.A. Gabr, S.A. El Shall, 2010. Effect of humic acid treatments on “Canino” apricot growth, yield and fruit quality. New York Science Journal, 3, 12, 1009-1015.
[17] Mancuso S., Azzarello E., Mugnai S., Briand X., 2006. Marine bioactive substances (IPA extract) improve foliar ion uptake and water stress tolerance in potted Vitis vinifera plants. Adv Hortic. Sci., 20, 156-161.
[18] S. Mugnai, E. Azzarello, C. Pandolfi, S. Salamagne, X. Briand, S. Mancuso, 2008. Enhancement of ammonium and potassium root influxes by the application of marine bioactive substances positively affects Vitis vinifera plant growth. J. Appl. Phycol, 20, 177-182.
[19] M.Z. Alam, G. Braun, J. Norrie, D.M. Hodges, 2013. Effect of Ascophyllum extract application on plant growth, fruit yield and soil microbial communities of strawberry. Cam J. Plant Sci, 93, 23-36.
[20] Mc Gire R.G., 1992. Reporting of objective color measurements. Hort. Science, vol. 27, 12, Dec.
[21] V.L Singleton, J.A. Rossi, 1965. Colorimetry of total phenolics with phosphomolybdic-phosphotungstic acid reagents. Am J. Enol Vitic., 16, 144-158.
[22] W. Brand-Williams, M.E. Cuvelier, C. Berset, 1995. Use of free radical method to evaluate antioxidant activity. Lebensm Wiss Technology, 28, 25-30.
[23] D. Ruitz, J. Egea, 2008. Analysis of the variability and correlations of floral biology factors affecting fruit set in apricot in a Mediterranean climate. Scientia Horticulturae 115, 154–163.
[24] S. Ishag, A.H. Rathore, S. Majeed, S. Awan, Z.S. Ali Shan, 2009. The studies on the physic-chemical and organoleptic characteristics of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) produced in Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir during storage. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 8, 856-869.
[25] J. Egea, J.E., Garcia, T. Berenguer, 1994. Variedades de albaricoquero. Hortofruticultura, 6, 56-62.
[26] F. Guerrieri, J.M. Audergon, G. Albagnac, M. Reich, 2001. Soluble sugars and carboxlic acids in ripe apricot fruit as parameters for distinguishing different cultivars. Euphytica, 117, 183-189.
[27] E.B. Akin, I. Karabulut, A, Topcu, 2008. Some compositional properties of main Malatya apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) varieties. Food Chemistry, 107, 939-948.
[28] I.J. Hormaza, H. Yamane, J. Rodrigo, 2007. Apricot. In Genome mapping and molecular breeding in plants, Vol. 4. Fruits and Nuts. Kole C. eds. (Berlin-Heidelberg: Springer Verlag), 171-187.
[29] H. Valdes, M. Pizarro, R. Capos-Vargas, R. Infante, B.G. Defilippi, 2009. Effect of ethylene inhibitors on quality attributes of apricot cv. Modesto and Patterson during storage. Chileans Journal of Agricultural research, 69, 134-144.
[30] K. Dolenc-Sturm, F. Stampar, V. Usenik, 1999. Evaluating of some quality parameters of apricot cultivars using HPLC method. Acta Alimentaria, 28, 297-309.
[31] A.A. Kader 1999. Fruit maturity, ripening and quality relationship. Acta Hort., 485, 203-208.