Effect of Biostimulant Applications on Eco-Physiological Traits, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Two Raspberry Cultivars

Enhancing the yield and qualitative traits of horticultural crops without further hampering the environment constitutes an urgent challenge that could be addressed by implementing innovative agronomic tools, such as plant biostimulants. This study investigated the effects of three commercial biostimulants&mdash:BIO1 (fulvic/humic acids), BIO2 (leonardite-humic acids), and BIO3 (plant-based extracts)&mdash:on leaf ecophysiology, yield, and fruit quality in two raspberry cultivars, &lsquo:Autumn Bliss&rsquo: (AB) and &lsquo:Zeva&rsquo: (Z), grown in an open-field context, to assess their effectiveness in raspberry cultivation. Experimental activities involved two Research Years (RYs), namely, year 2023 (RY 1) and 2024 (RY 2). Leaf parameters such as chlorophyll, flavonols, anthocyanins, and the Nitrogen Balance Index (NBI) were predominantly influenced by the interaction between Treatment, Year and Cultivar factors, indicating context-dependent responses rather than direct biostimulant effects. BIO2 showed a tendency to increase yield (g plant&minus:1) and berry number plant&minus:1, particularly in RY 2 (417.50 g plant&minus:1, +33.93% vs. control). Fruit quality responses were cultivar and time-specific: BIO3 improved soluble solid content in AB (12.8 &deg:Brix, RY 2, Intermediate Harvest) and Z (11.43 &deg:Brix, +13.91% vs. BIO2). BIO2 reduced titratable acidity in AB (3.12 g L&minus:1) and increased pH in Z (3.02, RY 2) but also decreased &deg:Brix in Z. These findings highlight the potential of biostimulants to modulate raspberry physiology and productivity but underscore the critical role of cultivar, environmental conditions, and specific biostimulant composition in determining the outcomes, which were found to critically depend on tailored application strategies.