Determination of the effects of different doses of boron-containing organic fertilizer application on fruit quality in aronia (Aronia melanocarpa L.) cultivation

This study was carried out in 2023-2024 on 3-year-old Viking variety aronia plants in a 5-decare garden where commercial production is made for export in Yukarıiğdeağacı Neighborhood, Beylikova District of Eskişehir Province. Different doses of boroncontaining organic fertilizer were applied to the aronia plant, and the phenological, pomological properties and some biochemical contents of the plants in the local ecology were investigated. The experiment was carried out according to the randomized plot design with 3 replications. 0 (control), 100, 200 and 300 ppm boron-containing organic fertilizer applications were made and each replication was designed to have 10 plants. 30 seedlings were selected for each dose application, and a total of 120 seedlings were used. In boroncontaining organic fertilizer application, foliar fertilization method was used; application was made during the full leafing period and after fruit set. With phenological observations, fruit bud swelling, opening, flowering, fruit set and harvest time of aronia plant in regional conditions were determined. As a result of pomological analyzes, fruit width (mm), fruit length (mm), fruit weight (gr), number of fruits in the bunch (number) and seed weight (gr) were determined. In biochemical analyzes, water soluble solids (WSM), pH, titratable acidity (TEA), vitamin C determination, total phenolic substance determination and antioxidant activity determination were carried out. When the results were examined, in terms of pomological properties; 100 and 300 ppm doses were found to be statistically significant for fruit flesh firmness, 300 ppm for number of fruits in the bunch and 100 ppm for color value (L) (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the applications in terms of chemical properties (p < 0.05).