Application of Commercial Plant Probiotics Improves the Berry Yield and Quality of Field-Grown Blackcurrant

Abstract

The berries of blackcurrants are commercially important and rich in antioxidants and have a high free radical scavenging capacity. Four controlled fields 1 ha in size were set up in an organic farm to test two commercial plant probiotic products, ProbioHumus and NaturGel, and their combined impact on blackcurrant berry yield and quality. Spray applications of ProbioHumus, NaturGel, and their combination significantly increased fruit yields 38, 25, and 16%, respectively, versus the nontreated control. The berries from plants inoculated with probiotics had significantly higher contents of anthocyanins versus the nontreated control and tended to exhibit increased levels of ascorbic acid. The blackcurrant berries treated with both probiotics exhibited a fair ability to scavenge DPPH free radicals. This is the first study of the improvement of both the yield and the quality of blackcurrant berries by the application of commercial plant probiotics under field conditions.