Effect of foliar spraying of salicylic acid on growth, yield and quality of cold stored strawberry plants

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of foliar SA applications (1.0 or 2.0 mM) with different number of applications (once, twice or three times) as well as control on growth, chlorophyll and mineral content of leaves, some fruit-quality parameters and yield of strawberry during the two successive seasons of 2009/2010 and 2010/2011. Results indicated that salicylic acid increased vegetative growth characteristics, i.e. plant length, number of leaves/plant, leaf area and root and vegetative growth fresh weights. Also, salicylic acid treatments increased crown carbohydrate, leaf phosphorus, soluble solid content of fruits and early and total yields/plant, while leaf chlorophyll content was decreased. There was no significant effect for the tested treatments on nitrogen and potassium contents of leaves and fruit quality characters, i.e. fruit firmness, titratable acidity, SSC/ titratable acidity and ascorbic acid. The most effective treatment in enhancing growth, fruit quality and yield of cold stored strawberry cv. Sweet Charlie was found to be salicylic acid at 2.0 mM three times.