Foliar applications of different plant biostimulants promote growth and fruit quality of strawberry plants grown under nutritional limitation.

Soppelsa S., Kelderer M., Casera C., Andreotti C. (2018). Foliar applications of different plant biostimulants promote growth and fruit quality of strawberry plants grown under nutritional limitation. Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Organic Fruit-Growing 2018, 207-212.

Plant biostimulants are a new emerging category of products especially for organic
cultivation that target the promotion of plant growth also throughout the overcome of a
stressful situation. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of biostimulants on
vegetative growth, production and fruit quality of strawberry, grown in nutrient limitation
conditions. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse conditions on strawberry plants
cv. Elsanta. Repeated preharvest foliar applications of different biostimulants (humic acids,
alfalfa protein hydrolysate, seaweed extract, hydrolysis of microalga and chitosan) were
tested. Our results showed that plant growth was positively affected by some treatments.
The number of leaves per plant was significantly increased in alfalfa- and chitosan-treated
plants (2 leaves/plant more than control ones) at the end of the trial. Plants treated with
alfalfa presented 16% higher chlorophyll content in leaves compared to control ones and
the accumulated biomass per plant was enhanced in treated plants, though not significantly.
Significant higher production levels were found in plants treated with chitosan (+20%). As
far as fruit quality, treatments proved to significantly influence fruit weight and fruit firmness.
In particular alfalfa treatment increased fruit weight, while chitosan-treated fruits had higher
firmness and a tendency to lower soluble solids values compared to the control ones,
indicating a possible ripening-delaying effect of this biostimulant product and therefore a
probable interesting prolongation of postharvest shelf life of fruits. To conclude, this
investigation provides a better understanding of how biostimulant applications might help
plant growth in a stressful situation such as nutritional limitation and how these products can
promote fruit quality. These biostimulant products may therefore represent a potentially
interesting tool, especially within the framework of organic farming, to counteract the effects
of limited nutritional support available for the crop.

Documents

Foliar applications of different plant biostimulants promote growth and fruit quality of strawberry plants grown under nutritional limitation. () Soppelsa S., Kelderer M., Casera C., Andreotti C. (2018). Foliar applications of different plant biostimulants promote growth and fruit quality of strawberry plants grown under nutritional limitation. Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Organic Fruit-Growing 2018, 207-212.

Links

Ecofruit-Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Organic Fruit-Growing 2018 “Ecofruit” is the continuation of the 17 previous meetings. It aims to bring together European researchers and consultants working on topics related to organic fruit growing. “Ecofruit” gives an opportunity to communicate and discuss latest results connected with organic fruit growing with regard to the improvement of the production system.

Details

Activity type

Publication in scientific journal (peer review)

Activity work package

Reduction in pesticide residues

Activity number

Laimburg - WP3 - A98

Activity contact

Dr. Markus Kelderer
Laimburg Research Centre
Laimburg 6 - Pfatten
I-39040 Post Auer (BZ), Italy
[email protected]

Activity partner

Laimburg

Activity country

Italy

Last edit

23-11-2018