Pomological traits and fruit quality of black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) cultivars as affected by soil management system

Abstract

This experiment evaluated the pomological properties (bush volume, berry weight, cluster weight, yield per bush and yield per unit area) and fruit quality (soluble solids content, total sugars, invert sugars, titratable acidity, total anthocyanins and ascorbic acid) of black currant cultivars as affected by soil management systems. The trial included the following cultivars: 'Ben Lomond', 'Ben Sarek', 'Titania', 'Cacanska Crna', 'Tisel' and ' Tiben'. Three soil management systems were evaluated: treatment 1 - bare fallow i.e., continuous tillage; treatment 2 - sawdust mulch; and treatment 3 black foil mulch. Differences in tested parameters were observed among cultivars and treatments. Bush volume was largest in 'Cacanska Crna' and 'Ben Lomond'. Berry weight and cluster weight were greatest in 'Ben Sarek', but cluster weight was also high in 'Cacanska Crna' and 'Titania'. Highest yields during the three-year experimental period were recorded in 'Tiben' and 'Titania'. Soluble solids content was high in 'Tiben' and 'Tisel', and high values for the other fruit quality parameters were recorded in 'Cacanska Crna'. Bare fallow and sawdust mulch treatments showed no differences in bush volume, berry weight, cluster weight and soluble solids content. Total sugars, invert sugars and total anthocyanins were highest in bare fallow treatment, whereas the highest yields and ascorbic acid content were recorded in sawdust mulch treatment.