The role of berry growing technology on bioactive compound improvement

Abstract

Numerous studies have pointed out the presence of high bioactive substance concentration in fruit berries as well as a correlation between daily intake of fruits and human health. The greatest benefit to human health has been attributed to phenolic compounds and vitamin C, due to their antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory and neuroprotective properties. A significant part of antioxidant activity in strawberry and blackberry fruits takes place due to phenolic acids. Apart from phenolic acids, flavonoids also make an important group of secondary metabolites, among which the most common in strawberries and blackberries are anthocyanins. Many factors affect the chemical composition of berries, the most important of them being the genotype, climatic conditions, agricultural practices, fruit ripeness degree and others. The main objective of this study was to investigate the influence of genotype and type of fertilizer (strawberry), as well as the system of cultivation and climatic conditions (blackberry) on the content of vitamin C and phenolic compound. The application of biofertilizers predominantly expressed a stimulating influence on most of the phenolic compounds in fruit berries tested. In the rain-shield cultivation of blackberries, higher values for all parameters of the fruit phenolic composition were obtained except for vanillic acid content, in comparison to standard cultivation system. Changes that have occurred in the nutritional quality of the tested strawberry cultivars indicate the best performance was exhibited by 'Joly', which can be recommended for further promotion and expansion in strawberry growing regions. Taking into consideration the stimulating impact of biofertilizers in strawberries and rain-shield cultivation systems in blackberries on the phenolic compound in fruits, the use of biofertilization and rain-shield can be considered justified in terms of improving the current strawberry and blackberry production technology and obtaining products with positive effects on human health.