Foliar-applied humic acid modulates antioxidant and mineral profiles in tomato fruit across maturity stages

Berry quality can further be modulated by applying foliar biostimulants to cherry tomatoes depending on their maturity stage. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar application of humic acid (HA) on berry quality at different maturity stages. Humic acid was applied at concentrations of 0, 25, 50, and 75 mg L-¹ during the vegetative, flowering, and fruit-setting phases. Berries were harvested at four distinct maturity stages: mature green (MG), breaker (BK), pink (PK), and red (RD) stages. HA, particularly HA75, significantly enhanced berry quality when harvested at the red stage and exhibited better antioxidant activity due to elevated levels of vitamin C (44.20 mg 100 g-1 FW), lycopene (0.25 mg 100 g-1 FW), and β-carotene (27.58 mg 100…