Effect of Different Commercial Fertilizers, Harvest Date, and Storage Time on Two Organically Grown Blackberry Cultivars: Physicochemical Properties, Antioxidant Properties, and Sugar Profiles

Abstract

Despite increased consumer interest in organic produce, little is known about how different organic production methods affect both the traditional measures of quality and the naturally occurring health promoting (bioactive) compounds of food. In this study, “Obsidian” and “Triple Crown” blackberries (both Rubus hybrids) were cultivated organically and fertilized with either soy meal, fish emulsion/hydrolysate blend, or processed poultry litter fertilizers at a fixed rate. Fruits were hand-harvested three times during their peak production period and stored at 4°C and 85% RH for up to 12 d. Fertilizer effects on the physicochemical properties were minor, while harvest period had a stronger effect, though that trend varied by year. Antioxidant and sugar profile data revealed an interesting pattern: “Obsidian” had ORAC and lower sugar than “Triple Crown” at harvest and also had greater differentiation due to fertilizer treatments. Fertilizer effects differed based on harvest date and cultivar, with late harvest fruit fertilized with fish emulsion fertilizer showing higher TPC and ORAC than other fertilizer treatments, while the early and middle harvest fruit showed similar or greater responses to soy meal-based fertilizer. Time of harvest and length of storage also affected the antioxidant properties and sugar profiles in different ways depending on fruit cultivar, again with the “Obsidian” fruit showing greater variability in general. This study demonstrated that the two cultivars of organically grown blackberry fruit have different physicochemical and antioxidant properties, thus potentially different shelf lives in the fresh market.

Phenolics Profiling of Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E.Br. and Insights into Molecular Dynamics of Their Significance in Type 2 Diabetes Therapy and Its Retinopathy Complication

“…Phenolic compounds have beneficial health-promoting properties and are regarded as the class of compounds mostly found in edible plants, fruits, and beverages among the phytochemicals [ 8 ]. They are effective in the treatments against several debilitating diseases such as cancer, diabetes, inflammation, pathogenic infections and aging, amongst others [ 9 , 10 ]. While some phenolics have demonstrated potential in the treatment and management of diabetes and its complications [ 11 ], an insight into deciphering the nature of interaction(s) with the implicated key enzymes is imperative to provide evidence-based data supporting their antidiabetic potential.…”

Agronomic performance of blackberry cultivars in environmental protection area

“…A more localized production, as observed in this year, tends to generate lower sales prices, in addition to a short product offering period, hindering production flow. Considering a short post-harvest life, varying from 4 to 8 days depending on the cultivar (Cavender et al, 2019), production scheduling can greatly help to ensure good fruit prices.…”

“…This fact, added to its short post-harvest life generates a fruit that reaches market shelves with high prices. With promising potential and good prospects for commercialization, the fruit can be consumed fresh or used to produce a wide variety of products that can be offered on rural tourism routes and in free markets (Antunes & Hoffmann, 2012;Antunes & Raseira, 2004;Cavender et al, 2019).…”

Determination of Antioxidant Compounds, Proximate Compositions and Assessment of Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Nypa Fruticans Wurmb. Sap

“…These discrepancies of the various chemical constituents may be related to harvest date, time, location, and year-to-year growing period (Sharp et al, 2014). Recent study conducted by Cavender et al (2019) reported that harvested period had a greatly effect to influence the variations of sugar contents. The amount of protein content in NPS at 7.04% indicated that it could be used as a protein supplement for muscle development and maintaining human health (Wakili et al, 2015).…”