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Agronomy
Volume 16
Issue 11
10.3390/agronomy16111063
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Preharvest Biostimulant–Calcium Application Enhances Blueberry Fruit Quality Through Structural and Cuticular Modifications

by
Tiago Lopes
1,2,3,4,*,
Ana Paula Silva
1,2,
Helena Ferreira
1,2,
Carlos Ribeiro
1,2,
Fábio Pereira
1,2,
António A. Vicente
3,4 and
Berta Gonçalves
1,2
1
Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
2
Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
3
Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB), University of Minho (UM), Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
4
LABBELS—Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Agronomy 2026, 16(11), 1063; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16111063
Submission received: 5 May 2026 / Revised: 26 May 2026 / Accepted: 26 May 2026 / Published: 27 May 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biostimulant-Mediated Crop Stress Tolerance: From Physiological Mechanisms to Yield Improvement)
Versions Notes

Abstract

The increased demand for higher-quality, longer-lasting blueberries has led to the development of preharvest strategies to improve their structural integrity sustainably. This study analysed the effects of the foliar application of two biostimulant–calcium (Ca) combinations, using Ecklonia maxima extract (EM + Ca) and glycine betaine (GB + Ca), on yield, biometric, mechanical, and histological properties, as well as cuticular wax composition of blueberries. Both biostimulants increased yield per plant and fruit weight and size in ‘Duke’, with superior results for GB + Ca. Fruit yield increased by 80% with GB + Ca and 40% with EM + Ca. Histological analysis showed increases in cuticle thickness, epidermal cell area and thickness, and hypodermal cell area and area/perimeter ratio. This thicker, denser tissue ultimately improved blueberries’ mechanical properties. Specifically, ‘Draper’ berries treated with GB + Ca had 36%, 15%, and 20% higher values for flesh firmness, stiffness, and deformation work, respectively, relative to the control. However, cuticular wax accumulation was more pronounced with EM + Ca for the ‘Duke’ cultivar, increasing by 12%. Overall, GB + Ca had the greatest impact on blueberry structural quality and may represent a promising strategy to improve postharvest quality and commercial production.
Keywords: Vaccinium corymbosum L.; seaweed extract; glycine betaine; calcium; fruit firmness; histology; cuticular waxes; postharvest quality Vaccinium corymbosum L.; seaweed extract; glycine betaine; calcium; fruit firmness; histology; cuticular waxes; postharvest quality

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MDPI and ACS Style

Lopes, T.; Silva, A.P.; Ferreira, H.; Ribeiro, C.; Pereira, F.; Vicente, A.A.; Gonçalves, B. Preharvest Biostimulant–Calcium Application Enhances Blueberry Fruit Quality Through Structural and Cuticular Modifications. Agronomy 2026, 16, 1063. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16111063

AMA Style

Lopes T, Silva AP, Ferreira H, Ribeiro C, Pereira F, Vicente AA, Gonçalves B. Preharvest Biostimulant–Calcium Application Enhances Blueberry Fruit Quality Through Structural and Cuticular Modifications. Agronomy. 2026; 16(11):1063. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16111063

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lopes, Tiago, Ana Paula Silva, Helena Ferreira, Carlos Ribeiro, Fábio Pereira, António A. Vicente, and Berta Gonçalves. 2026. "Preharvest Biostimulant–Calcium Application Enhances Blueberry Fruit Quality Through Structural and Cuticular Modifications" Agronomy 16, no. 11: 1063. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16111063

APA Style

Lopes, T., Silva, A. P., Ferreira, H., Ribeiro, C., Pereira, F., Vicente, A. A., & Gonçalves, B. (2026). Preharvest Biostimulant–Calcium Application Enhances Blueberry Fruit Quality Through Structural and Cuticular Modifications. Agronomy, 16(11), 1063. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16111063

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