Reaching harvest with the highest possible proportion of fruit in marketable condition is one of the main challenges in blueberry production for demanding markets. Toward the end of the production cycle, exposure to environmental conditions such as high radiation can make it more difficult to maintain fruit quality, highlighting the importance of tools that can help protect its commercial potential.

It was precisely under these conditions that the performance of TENS Apply®, a plant-based phospholipid matrix from BIO Apply developed for foliar application, was evaluated. The trial, conducted in a commercial Sekoya Pop orchard in Olmos, Peru, compared application rates of 2 and 3 L/ha with conventional field management and a commercial control (terpene polymer). Applications were made weekly during the final stage of the season, after which fruit quality was assessed following 30 days of cold storage.

Protection against dehydration

One of the most noticeable results emerged in the field. While the conventional treatment reached 5.71% dehydrated berries in the final evaluation, TENS Apply® at 2 L/ha recorded 1.65%. In other words, under the conditions of this trial, the incidence of dehydration observed with TENS Apply® was approximately 71% lower than in the control.

The difference was also reflected in the dehydration severity index: 2.59 in the control compared with 0.54 with TENS Apply® at 2 L/ha. The relevance of this difference lies in what happens afterward: a lower incidence of dehydration can contribute to preserving a greater proportion of fruit in marketable condition. This is where berry size results make it possible to take the analysis from the field to the business.

From fruit size to economic potential

After 30 days of storage, TENS Apply® at 3 L/ha achieved an average fruit size of 18.74 mm, compared with 18.30 mm in the control. However, the difference becomes more significant when looking at the distribution: 23.8% of the fruit treated with 3 L/ha exceeded 20 mm, while under conventional management, that proportion was 13.1%.

In a market where fruit size can have a direct impact on price, this redistribution can translate into higher estimated returns. Based on a reference yield of 31,941 kg/ha and values of US$5.5/kg for 15–17 mm fruit, US$7/kg for 18–20 mm fruit, and US$8.5/kg for fruit above 20 mm, the estimated revenue for the conventional treatment reached US$226,415/ha. With TENS Apply® at 2 L/ha, the estimate increased to US$229,481/ha, while at 3 L/ha it reached US$235,003/ha.

In other words, based on these figures, the fruit size distribution observed with TENS Apply® at 3 L/ha represents a potential differential of US$8,588/ha compared with the control. For TENS Apply® at 2 L/ha, the estimated differential reaches US$3,067/ha. It is important to note that these are estimates based on the fruit sizes observed in the trial and reference market values; therefore, the results may vary depending on yield, prices, and each grower’s commercial structure.

A differentiated response according to application rate

The results also showed a differentiated response according to application rate. While 2 L/ha stood out particularly for its performance against dehydration in the field, the 3 L/ha application stood out for fruit size and soluble solids, reaching 17.07 °Brix after storage.

Thus, the trial offers a perspective that goes beyond protecting fruit from environmental conditions. In a crop where each quality attribute can have an economic impact, managing the effects of high radiation and preserving the commercial potential of the berries can contribute to improving the final business outcome.

Based on the validation study: “Effect of TENS Apply® application on fruit quality during storage and field performance of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) cv. Sekoya Pop.” Conducted by Consultora Agrícola y Comercial Santa María Limitada, led by:

Sebastián Ochoa Münzenmayer and his team:
Simón Muñoz Ainardi
Fernando Villagrán Muñoz
Antonia Maggiolo Garrido.