Comparison of berry quality in highbush blueberry cultivars grown according to conventional and organic methods

Authors : İreneusz OCHMIAN, Karolina KOZOS, Piotr CHELPINSKI, Malgorzata SZCZEPANEK

Pages : 174-181

Doi:10.3906/tar-1404-18

View : 12 | Download : 6

Publication Date : 2015-04-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This research was conducted in the Laboratory Orchard at the Department of Horticulture, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin and at a certified production farm specializing in the cultivation of highbush blueberry located in Szczecin. The effect of cultivation conditions?organic plantation in organic peat substrate insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(pH 3.46); and conventional plantation in mineral substrate insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(pH 5.32);-on the berry quality of four highbush blueberry cultivars insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(firmness, size, chemical composition including content of organic compounds and polyphenols); was examined. Blueberry bushes were planted at a spacing of 2.3 × 1.2 m. Bushes were planted on organic and conventional plantations, and the substrates differed in terms of mineral content. Specific environmental conditions and soil conditions insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(optimum pH of the substrate); resulted in larger berries on the organic plantations, and the total yield contained big berries insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(diameter, >12 mm; mean, 83.4%); with lower polyphenol content insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(287 mg 100 g-1);. The berries of the Elliott cultivar, regardless of how the crops were grown, were the largest, characterized by the lowest content of SS insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(15.3%); and the highest acidity insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0.98 g 100 g-1);. They were also the most likely to shed. The Duke cultivar was most susceptible to mechanical damage insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(101 G mm); and was characterized by the lowest berry firmness insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(162 and 363 G mm); and polyphenol content insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(organic, 185 mg; conventional, 228 mg 100 g-1);.
Keywords : Chemical composition, farming methods, firmness, phenolic, substrate, Vaccinium