RESUMO
Fertilisation strategy can have a big impact on apple (Malus domestica Borkh) yield, with considerable environmental and economic implications. This research paper presents the yield and leaf nutrients content of three apple cultivars fertilised with three treatment regimes over 2 years (2020-202) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The specific apple cultivars investigated were: Jonagold Decosta, Red Idared and Gala Schnitzer®Schniga, each fertilised with three treatments: T1 (controlâwithout fertilization); T2 (300 kg ha-1 NPK (6:18:36) + 150 kg/ha N (calcium ammonium nitrateâCAN)) and T3 (foliar nutritionâmixture organic-mineral fertilizer commercially named "FitoFert Kristal" (0.6%) (10:40:10) + "FitoFert Kristal" (0.6%) (20:20:20) + "FoliFetril Ca" (0.5%) (N:Ca)) in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period of two years (2020-2021). Significant differences of different yield categories (yield per tree, yield per hectare and yield efficiency) were found among cultivar/treatment combinations, cultivars, treatments and years. Yield per tree, yield per hectare and yield efficiency were lowest in cultivar Jonagold DeCosta. Fertilization treatment T1 significantly influenced the lowest yield per tree and yield per hectare with the magnitudes 7.55 kg tree-1 and 27.96 t ha-1, respectively. The highest yield efficiency was found in trees fertilised with treatment T3 with 9.21 55 kg tree-1, 34.11 96 t ha-1 and yield efficiency of 0.25 kg cm-2. Six mineral elements in the apple leaf, such as boron (B), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), potassium (K), and zinc (Zn), were presented in known magnitudes. The cultivar Jonagold DeCosta's leaves had the highest K, B, and Zn contents with 8500.8 mg kg-1 FW (i.e. fresh weight of leaves), 33.8 mg kg-1 FW, and 12.2 mg kg-1 FW, respectively, while cultivar Red Idared's leaves had the highest Ca, Fe, and Mg contents. The fertilisation treatment T3 influenced significantly the highest content of Ca (301.37 mg kg-1 FW), Fe (116.5 mg kg-1 FW), B (41.6 mg kg-1 FW), Mn (22.4 mg kg-1 FW), and Zn (14.9 mg kg-1 FW) in leaves, while the highest content of K was found in leaves from trees fertilised with treatment T2 (8130.5 mg kg-1 FW). The experimental outcomes have proven that the cultivar/treatment combinations, cultivars, treatments, and time duration (in years) are the key factors affecting the potassium, calcium, iron, boron, and manganese contents. It was concluded that the foliar application enables easier mobility of elements, which results in a greater number of fruits and larger fruits, which leads to a higher yield. This study is the first of its kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the findings of this research will pave the way for future research activities involving increasing the number of cultivars and different fertilisation treatments on apple yield and leaf mineral composition.
RESUMO
The aim of this study was to assess content of primary and secondary metabolites of 18 plum cultivars selected in Serbia. Autochthonous cultivar 'Crvena Ranka' exhibited the highest level of total sugars (174.3â¯g/kg FW) while cultivar 'Mildora' had the highest sugars/acids ratio (17.2). Cultivar 'Nada' also contained high sugars/acid ratio as well as a high level of glucose and total sugars. Compared to the other cultivars, 'Nada' had a higher content of anthocyanins (27.14â¯mg/100â¯g FW), 'Crvena Ranka' neochlorogenic acid (23.21â¯mg/100â¯g FW) and flavanols (86.15â¯mg/100â¯g FW) but also the highest antioxidant activity. The PCA analysis confirmed that 'Nada' and 'Crvena Ranka' demonstrated better results in terms of sugars and antioxidant activity than the standard cultivars grown in Serbia and can be recommended for increased plum growing for fresh consumption, processing and in the breeding of plum with enhanced nutritional content.
