Effects of Different Nitrogen Forms on Blackberry Fruit Quality

Abstract

To study the optimal form of nitrogen (N) application and to determine the best harvest date for blackberries, different N fertilizers were applied during the critical growth period of blackberry plants. The results showed that NH4+–N significantly improved the appearance of blackberry fruits, including their size, firmness, and color, and promoted the accumulation of soluble solids, sugars, anthocyanin, ellagic acid, and vitamin C (VC), while fruit treated with NO3−–N accumulated more flavonoids and organic acids and had improved antioxidant capacity. In addition, the fruit size, firmness, and color brightness decreased with the harvest period. While the contents of sugars, anthocyanin, ellagic acid, flavonoids, and VC were higher in the early harvests and then decreased as the season progressed, the total antioxidant capacity and DPPH radical scavenging capacity increased. In all, application of NH4+–N is recommended, as it is more beneficial to fruit appearance, taste, and nutritional quality. Harvests in the early stage help to obtain a good fruit appearance, while harvests in the middle and later stages are more beneficial to fruit taste and quality. This study may help growers to determine the best fertilization scheme for blackberries and choose the appropriate harvest time according to their needs.

Polyphenol Profile, Antioxidant Activity and Yield of Cynara cardunculus altilis in Response to Nitrogen Fertilisation

“…This was likely related to the low TPC found in the same samples. Duan et al similarly found that blackberries under NO 3 -N stimulated DPPH activity [45]. On the contrary, amaranth species supplied with NH 4 -N exhibited superior DPPH activity [43].…”

Critical Review of Selected Analytical Platforms for GC-MS Metabolomics Profiling—Case Study: HS-SPME/GC-MS Analysis of Blackberry’s Aroma

“…Both consumers and food suppliers place a great deal of importance on fruit quality, with premium fruits typically having greater market potential. As a result, berry growers worldwide seek berries that are large, firm, flavorful, and nutrient-rich [26]. With their bioactive components, which include phenolic acids and flavonoids [27], they have strong antioxidant activity [28] and help prevent a variety of ailments.…”

Comparison of Fruit Parameters and Elemental Composition of Commercial Varieties of Blackberries

“…The main advantage of blackberry culture is the unique taste and useful properties of the fruits, which depend on the amount of sugars and organic acids in the berries, and are more related to their genotype [2]. In the studies of Makarkinoy M.A., the genotypes of 'Black Satin', ' Čačanska Bestrna', 'Chester', 'Natchez', 'Triple Crown', ELS LN-14, OS LN-1, and OS LN-7 were chosen as the blackberries with a high content of bioactive substances in the fruits, namely ascorbic acids and phenolic compounds [3][4][5].…”