Influence of foliar spraying of seaweed extract on growth, yield and quality of strawberry plants

Abstract

The study was carried out to investigate the effect of foliar sprayings of seaweed extract (1.0 or 2.0 ml/l) with different number of applications (once, twice or three times) on growth, chlorophyll, 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 seaweed extract enhanced vegetative growth characteristics, i.e. plant length, number of leaves/plant, leaf area, root and vegetative growth fresh weights. Moreover, seaweed extract foliar spray also increased crown carbohydrate, leaf phosphorus and potassium contents, average fruit weight, early and total yields/plant, and fruit quality characters, i.e. fruit firmness, soluble solid content, titratable acidity and SSC/titratable acidity. There was no significant effect for the tested treatments on chlorophyll and nitrogen contents in leaves and ascorbic acid content in fruits. The most effective treatment in enhancing growth, fruit quality and yield of plants produced from cold stored strawberry cv. Sweet Charlie was found to be foliar sprayed of seaweed extract at 2.0 ml/l three times.