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Research paper

Effects of foliar sprays of iodine and selenium on vegetative, reproductive, and fruit responses of Kordia sweet cherry

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/asphc.2026.5668
Submitted: 17 February 2026
Published: 29.06.2026

Abstract

Iodine (I) and selenium (Se) deficiency in the human body constitutes a significant health, social, and economic challenge. This study aimed to examine the effects of sprays of I and Se, applied alone or combined, on vegetative growth, yield, fruit quality, and fruit biofortification of Kordia sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.). The trees were sprayed with: (i) I and/or Se, four times in the early season at rates of 25 g ha–1 and 15 g ha–1 per spray, respectively; (ii) I and Se, once, 3 days before harvest, at rates of 50–100 g ha–1 and 30–60 g ha–1, respectively; and (iii) I and Se in the early season as in combination (i), plus before harvest as in combination (ii), using the lowest rates of these nutrients. It was found that none of the spray combinations affected tree vigour, fruit yield, mean fruit weight, and fruit firmness and acidity. Early-season Se sprays delayed leaf fall and increased both chlorophyll level in leaves and soluble solid concentration in fruit. Pre-harvest spray treatments decreased leaf chlorophyll concentration, and caused leaf damage and defoliation. The highest amounts of I and Se in fruit were found in trees sprayed with these nutrients in the early season plus before harvest. Lower efficiency in biofortifying fruit with I and Se was observed for early-season sprays and for pre-harvest spray applied at the highest rates of I and Se. It is concluded that early-season sprays, alone or combined with a pre-harvest spray of I and Se, can be recommended for late-ripening sweet cherry cultivars.

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