Field Evaluation of Synergistic Innovative Stimulation Techniques for Improving Blueberry Growth and Quality Fruit Production
摘要
This study evaluated the effects of electrical stimulation (ES) and biological stimulation (BS) on blueberry plants, evaluating their synergistic impact under field conditions in comparison to a control group (C) without stimulation across various growth stages. Key variables were recorded during the pre-flowering stage, including the number of flower buds, chargers, flowers, and fruit, as well as chlorophyll levels, over twelve weeks. In the fruit set and filling stage, fruit caliber, total fruit count, and yield (grams/plant) were measured over eleven weeks. Post-fruit set, characteristics such as blueberry size, color (brightness (L), hue angle, chromatic index, and color differences (∆E)), firmness, and Brix degree were evaluated. The ES + BS treatment achieved the highest cumulative yield (1383 g plant−1), followed by ES (1293 g plant−1), BS + ES (1289 g plant−1), and BS (1278 g plant−1), with the control yielding 1216 g plant−1 after eleven weeks. The control group had the highest total fruit weight (635 g plant−1), while BS treatment produced 40.26% of fruits sized 16–18 mm with a higher °Brix (15.5) compared to ES + BS (15.0). Notably, BS + ES showed the highest percentage of export-quality blueberries (≥ 19 mm) at 24.12% and the greatest firmness (22.95 N). The study also revealed significant color variations (∆E) between treatments, with BS and ES recording the highest brightness (L) and Hue angle, respectively. This research represents the first application of ES and BS to enhance blueberry growth, proposing a sustainable approach to improve fruit quality.