Effects of site and genotype on strawberry fruits quality traits and bioactive compounds

Abstract

Site effects on the main active and putative health-promoting compounds of strawberry were investigated using 5 strawberry genotypes. The plants were grown at three locations in Italy (Verona and Cesena in the North and Scanzano Jonico in the South) of differing latitude, environmental conditions (temperature) and crop management practices (planting date, plant type, harvest duration, yield per plant and per day) influencing fruits quality traits. At each site, fruits for analysis were picked at mid harvest (50% of total estimated yield) during the peak April-May marketing season, a mid-harvest window when consumers can choose fruits from both northern and southern districts. Yield per plant and fruits total soluble solids, titratable acidity, flesh firmness, skin colour, antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid, total phenols, total anthocyanins and phenolic compounds were determined. Genotype × site × climatic factors and cultivation technique interaction significantly affected yield per plant and almost all fruits quality traits. Given the longer harvest period and, hence, lower yield per day in the South, the fruits of this site were sweeter and of higher ascorbic acid and anthocyanin contents than that grown at the two North sites; the Verona fruits registered the highest acidity and antioxidant capacity. Fruits size and colour were unaffected by site. Soluble solids and ascorbic acid were negatively correlated to plant yield per day. A significant negative correlation between total antioxidant capacity, total polyphenols and fruits size was found. The main anthocyanin (pelargonidin-3-glucoside) was correlated to both total anthocyanin and total antioxidant capacity. Our overall data show that site-specific environmental conditions, especially in regard to the length of the climate-induced harvest window, and crop management practices affected fruits quality traits.

Soil Solarization and Calcium Cyanamide Affect Plant Vigor, Yield, Nutritional Traits, and Nutraceutical Compounds of Strawberry Grown in a Protected Cultivation System

“…Strawberry fruit is well known as an excellent source of different antioxidants and secondary metabolites such as ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds [16]. Other authors have found that genotype and cultivation technique have significant effects on the content of the secondary metabolites in strawberry fruits [38][39][40]. Our results showed that improvement in fruit ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, polyphenol contents, and antioxidant capacity can be accomplished through the combined use of soil solarization and CaCN 2 treatment.…”

The in vitro evaluation of isolated procyanidins as modulators of cytokine-induced eotaxin production in human alveolar epithelial cells

“…Polyphenolic metabolites are thought to accumulate in plants as a consequence of stress or pathogenic infiltration [9]. Modern agriculture limits these stresses; Joven et al suggested that in a western diet it would be difficult to consume enough polyphenols from fruit and vegetables to influence health as a result of reduced polyphenolic profiles due to modern agricultural practices [10,11]. Furthermore, the mean consumption of fruit and vegetable servings per person in the US is half of the recommended portions at 1.5-2 cups and 2-3 cups, respectively, per day [12].…”

Cultivation of strawberry in substrate: Productivity and fruit quality are affected by the cultivar origin and substrates

“…There is a relationship between temperature and genotype, and the increase in the thermal amplitude between day and night can affect the colour of the fruits (Šamec et al, 2016). In addition, the value of C* can be influenced by the location where the fruits are produced (Cocco et al, 2015). For example, when the cultivar Korona was cultivated in areas farther south relative to the Northern Hemisphere, higher values of C* were observed compared with those grown farther north, suggesting a positive effect of low temperatures on colour saturation (Krüger et al, 2012).…”

“…In the state of Rio Grande do Sul, there are regions approximately 900 m above sea level with low summer temperatures, which would provide suitable climatic conditions for the production of strawberry transplants (Wrege et al, 2007). When strawberry transplants are started in cooler locations, they can achieve relatively higher rates of productivity and fruit quality than can transplants started in warmer locations; the environment where a transplant was produced has a direct influence on cultivation and final production (Cocco et al, 2015).…”