Role of Micronutrients in Improving Fruit Quality and Yield of Strawberry cv. Chandler under Microclimatic Conditions

Abstract

S trawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) is an octaploid hybrid of the genus Fragaria (Rubiaceae family). It is a low growing perennial plant cultivated worldwide for its fruit. Botanically, its fruit is described as an aggregate accessory fruit. In 2016, strawberry production reached 9.1 million tonnes, with China accounting for 42 percent of the global output, followed by the US (16 percent) and Mexico and Egypt (5 percent each). (Trejo-Téllez and Gómez-Merino, 2014; Global market update: strawberry, 2019).In Pakistan, strawberry is grown as an annual crop in parts of Punjab and KPK province (Afridi et al., 2009). The crop is cultivated in November and fruit is ready to harvest in April-May. Its total area under cultivation is 387 hectares with an annual production of 795 tonnes (MNFSR, 2020). The maximum average yield lies between 5-10 tonnes per hectares. Since it is a relatively newly introduced crop, it's per acre Abstract | Strawberry (Fragaria x ananasa) is a widely grown fruit crop known for its color, aroma and texture. The fruit is enriched with vitamin C, manganese and antioxidants. In Pakistan, except for a few low-temperature regions, it is mainly grown as an annual fruit crop where runners are transplanted every year. Owing to its short growing period and high profitability, it is mostly produced by small scale farmers. However, the changing climate from the past few years has affected strawberry production in Pakistan. Heavy rainfall, along with hailstorms causes damage at the fruit initiation stage. Moreover, the rainfall also lead to the leaching down of the essential micronutrients in strawberry farms. In this study we have tested the foliar application of four micronutrients, iron, zinc, copper and boron, at different concentrations under tunnel conditions on strawberry cv. Chandler at Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three blocks. Our study showed that the 0.2% ZnSO4 and 0.4 % FeSO4 showed maximum mean values for fruit weight (18.22 g), fruit width (32.66 cm), yield per plant (175.84 g), no. of fruits per plant (10.26) and fruit set percentage (87.85 %). The foliar application of boron at 0.2 % maximized the total soluble salts (TSS) (8.3 0 B) and the least amount of titratable fruit acidity (0.27 %). The research findings also showed that combine application of Iron, Zinc and Boron in the given percentage can possibly improve the yield and quality of Chandler under microclimatic conditions.

Leaf Nutrient Status of Commercially Grown Strawberries in Latvia, 2014–2022: A Possible Yield-Limiting Factor

“…In comparison with other micronutrients, there were almost no data on Cu deficiency for strawberries. Although Cu acts as an important cofactor for several enzymes and also plays an important role in respiration and photosynthetic metabolism, studies have not revealed the significant effects of Cu fertilization on strawberry yield [ 12 , 50 ]. In strawberries, a foliar concentration of Cu that is less than 5 to 6 mg kg −1 of dry matter is associated with deficiency [ 17 , 26 ].…”

Micronutrient and Metabolic Profiling of Strawberry Cultivars Grown in Subtropical Conditions: A Review

“…It is impossible to dispute the significance of secondary elements like iron, boron, zinc, copper, etc. because they acted as a catalyst to keep the growth and production going (Sabahat et al, 2021). Micronutrient foliar feeding has a significant impact on strawberry characteristics relating to plant growth, yield, factors influencing yield, and qualities.…”