Effect of Foliar Application with Potassium Silicate and Glycine Betaine on Growth and Early Yield Quality of Strawberry Plants

Abstract

At private farm in Demiana village, Bilqas district, El-Dakahlia governorate, Egypt during the two consecutive winter seasons of 2018 and 2019, experimental field was carried out to study the response of vegetative growth, chemical components in leaves, yield and fruit quality of strawberry (Fragaria ssp.) cv. Fortuna to foliar spray with potassium silicate (KSi), glycine betaine (GB)and their interaction treatments. The experiment was done in split-plot within complete block randomized design. Potassium silicate treatments were four concentrations as (0, 2, 4 and 6 g/l) and glycine betaine were three concentrations as (0, 2.5 and 5 g/l). The obtained results referred to that KSi and GB significantly affected on vegetative growth, chemical components in leaves, yield and quality. Furthermore, foliar application with KSi at 6 g/l gave the highest values of vegetative growth, leaves contents, yield and fruit quality. As well as, foliar application with GB at any concentration significantly improved vegetative growth, chemical components in leaves, yield and fruit quality compared to control. In general, the best interaction treatment in this concern was that KSi at 6 g/l interacted with GB at 5 g/l as foliar spray compared to the other ones under study. Thus, it can be recommended that spraying strawberry plants with potassium silicate at 6 g/l and glycine betaine at 5 g/l can promote vegetative growth and increase the early yield and fruit quality under cold condition that are likely to occur in this period (November to February) which meet main export season..

Response of Strawberry Growth, Yield and Marketable Fruit Quality to Spraying With Moringa Leaf Extract, Calcium and Potassium Silicate

“…As well as the foliar solution potassium has directly affected the photosynthesis (33) and metabolism control (10) and increases cell expansion (22), which, together with silicon, contributed to stimulate vegetative growth which was reflected on the clusters number and yield. These results are in agreement with (19). Also, the increment occurred by the dual and triple interactions is due to the individual role of these factors in increasing these parameters and the behavior of the interactions themselves when they interacted with each other.…”

“…Silicon also regulates sugar metabolism and hormonal balance (13). Additionally, the foliar solution contains potassium, which contributes to the nutrients transferring from the leaves to the rest of the plant (30), which increased the transfer of produced materials to the fruits and increased T.S.S and vitamin C; these results are consistent with (19)…”

“…Additionally, the appropriate proportion of potassium that plays an important role in the various metabolic processes within the plant, as it is one of the macro-nutrients that the plant requires which is directly affected by photosynthesis in the plant (33) and metabolic processes control (10). It also works to transfer nutrients from the leaves to the roots and improves the nutrients absorption (30) which was reflected on the vegetative growth, these results were in agreement with (19). Also, the dual and triple interactions effect can be due to the individual role of these factors on the studied parameters, which played the same roles in the interaction.…”

“…Silicon also plays an important role in regulating sugar metabolism (13) and contributes to the regulation and transportation of nutrients across cell membranes and improving the properties of cell walls (27), which reflects on plant's growth and yield. Nada (19) recorded an increase in plant height, leaf number, T.S.S, and vitamin C by the foliar application of four concentrations of potassium silicate (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 g. L -1 ) on strawberry, as the concentration of 0.6 g. L -1 recorded the highest rates of the above-mentioned parameters. All given above; this study was aimed to improve the floral and vegetative growth of strawberry plant, which is reflected on the quantity, quality, and marketability of the fruits.…”

Plántulas de pepino y tomate fortificadas con silicio y cloro

“…Sus efectos benéficos se relacionan principalmente con el incremento de crecimiento y calidad de plántulas, factores de suma importancia para el trasplante rápido y la resistencia a enfermedades causadas por hongos (Villalón et al, 2018). De igual manera, se ha reportado que, al aplicar silicato de potasio en cultivo de fresa, se provoca un incremento en altura, peso fresco de la planta, área foliar y tasa fotosintética (Nada, 2020).…”