The Effects of Organic Material Applications on the Biochemical Content of ‘0900 Ziraat’ Sweet Cherry Cultivar

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of vermicompost, growth-promoting bacteria (Bacillus subtilis OSU-142), and algae extract combinations on total phenolics, flavonoid, anthocyanin, glucose, fructose, some phenolic compounds, and leaf chlorophyll content in ‘0900 Ziraat’ sweet cherry cultivar. For this purpose, vermicompost, bacteria, and algae extracts were applied using three different methods to tree canopy, soil, and both tree canopy and soil. Soil applications were made once during bud swelling, and tree canopy applications were made twice, at full bloom and 15 days after full bloom. All applications increased the total phenolics and flavonoid content. While the “algae application to tree canopy” increased the total flavonoid to 15.76 mg CE 100 g⁻¹ from 7.23 mg CE 100 g⁻¹, “the application of algae to soil and tree canopy” increased the total phenolics to 85.80 mg GAE 100 g⁻¹ from 71.05 mg GAE 100 g⁻¹. Except for “bacterial applications to tree canopy alone”, all applications significantly increased the total chlorophyll. The highest total chlorophyll (74.94 mg g⁻¹) was obtained from “the algae application to tree canopy”. However, it was determined that algae, bacteria, and vermicompost did not have a positive significant effect on glucose, fructose, campherol, catechin, ferulic acid, and anthocyanin content. In addition, the application of “bacteria to both tree canopy and soil” increased the chlorogenic acid content of fruits by approximately 50% compared to the control. Applications of “vermicompost to soil + bacteria to both soil and tree canopy”, “algae extract to the tree canopy”, and “bacteria to tree canopy” (28.75, 28.30 and 25.20 µg g⁻¹, respectively) increased the caffeic acid content of fruit compared to control. It was observed that only the application of “vermicompost to soil + bacterial to soil and tree canopy” had a positive effect on the quercetin content of fruits based on control.