Mitigating the adverse effects of deficit fertigation on strawberry yield, quality and phytochemical compounds by salicylic acid and putrescine treatments

Abstract

BACKGROUND: For global water shortage concerns and high cost of mineral nutrients it is necessary to decrease the amount of nutrient solutions in greenhouse production systems. Deficit fertigation may negatively affect the crop productivity and phytohormones can mitigate the adverse effects of stresses. OBJECTIVE: We studied the effects of deficit fertigation in combination with salicylic acid (SA) and putrescine (PUT) on strawberry fruit yield and quality. METHODS: Strawberry plants were fertilized with a complete nutrient solution of 220 (control), 180 (mild deficit fertigation) and/or 140 mL/D (severe deficit fertigation), and treated with PUT (at 0 and 2 mM) and/or SA (at 0 and 2 mM) and the combinations of these treatments during growth stages. Fruit growth, quality parameters, yield and phytochemical compounds were evaluated at harvest. RESULTS: Mild deficit fertigation (MDF) (140 mL/D) significantly enhanced the yield and quality of the fruit, and both PUT and SA, enhanced the positive effects of MDF on crop productivity. SA and PUT decreased the negative effects of DF on crop yield and fruit growth. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that it is possible to substantially enhance the quality and productivity of strawberries with a MDF regime, PUT and SA treatments.