Study of the Growth and Metabolic Insights of Kiwi Fruit by the Application of Amino Acid and Organic-Based Biostimulants

Abstract

Investigating the application of sustainable agricultural approaches, such as the use of biostimulants, is considered more significant than ever, especially in the commercially important species Actinidia deliciosa L., in the face of climate change. In this work, the application of a glycine–betaine–proline-based biostimulant (GBP) and a humic and fulvic acid-based biostimulant (HF) was evaluated on the growth and metabolism of kiwi trees under field conditions. Total phenolic content, proline, and chlorophyll content were analyzed during the experiment. The metabolic data showed that the kiwi trees of the GBP treatment were more robust, as indicated by proline analysis (0.41 ± 0.09 μmol g⁻¹) compared to C (0.28 ± 0.06 μmol g⁻¹). This vigor of GBP treatment was also represented in leaf area (3943.17 ± 211.26 cm²), compared to the C (3484.01 ± 354.19 cm²). The implementation of biostimulants constitutes an ecological approach that can be integrated into biological crop management, as it is environmentally friendly, non-invasive to the ecosystem, and aims for crop resilience to biotic or abiotic stress.