EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS LEAF-APPLIED BIOSTIMULANTS ON PRODUCTIVITY AND FRUIT QUALITY OF APPLE

“Biostimulants” are a poorly defined category of products aimed at improving health and growth of plants as well as the quality of their products. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different commercially available, foliar applied biostimulants on yield and fruit quality of intensively managed apple orchards in South Tyrol/Northern Italy. The vast majority of the experimental data do not reveal significant effects of the biostimulant applications. We conclude that under standard circumstances biostimulant applications are not likely to lead to commercial benefits for fruit growers.