Articles
DIFFERENTIAL EFFECT OF WATER DEFICIT IRRIGATION ON FRUIT QUALITY OF FIVE JUNE-BEARING STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS
Article number
838_31
Pages
187 – 192
Language
English
Abstract
With increasing evidence of the effect of climate change on water resources, concerns are arising due to the high water extractions used for some horticultural purposes.
In the last decade, water deficit irrigation has been seen as a potential alternative for new cultivation systems that could considerably reduce water usage in several horticultural crops.
Deficit irrigation (DI) is generally associated with reduction in strawberry fruit size and yield.
However, a recent study demonstrated that DI on strawberry fruit (cv. Elsanta) can increase the concentration of some taste- and health-related compounds (Terry et al., 2007). In this context, the aim of the present study was to assess the response and variability between five different strawberry cultivars (viz. Christine, Elsanta, Florence, Sonata, and Symphony) to imposed water-DI conditions.
Water-DI affected both fruit physiology and biochemistry.
Nevertheless, the response to drought stress was different for each cultivar.
Cultivars Elsanta, Sonata, and Symphony showed a greater reduction in berry size, accompanied by a significant increase in dry matter content, for fruit harvested from DI-treated plants than from plants kept at or near field capacity.
Concomitant to this and where dry matter was increased, the concentration of sugars and some acids were generally higher in DI-derived fruit.
Fruits cv. Elsanta resulted in a 1.4-fold increase in fructose content (on a fresh weight basis) when grown under DI conditions.
However, cvs. Florence and Christine did not show significant variations in berry weight or any of the target analytes measured when grown under the conditions imposed in this study.
The results presented herein suggest that reducing water irrigation may be a viable alternative to increase fruit quality in cvs. Elsanta, Sonata, and Symphony, but may not have a negative impact on fruit quality of cvs. Christine and Florence.
In the last decade, water deficit irrigation has been seen as a potential alternative for new cultivation systems that could considerably reduce water usage in several horticultural crops.
Deficit irrigation (DI) is generally associated with reduction in strawberry fruit size and yield.
However, a recent study demonstrated that DI on strawberry fruit (cv. Elsanta) can increase the concentration of some taste- and health-related compounds (Terry et al., 2007). In this context, the aim of the present study was to assess the response and variability between five different strawberry cultivars (viz. Christine, Elsanta, Florence, Sonata, and Symphony) to imposed water-DI conditions.
Water-DI affected both fruit physiology and biochemistry.
Nevertheless, the response to drought stress was different for each cultivar.
Cultivars Elsanta, Sonata, and Symphony showed a greater reduction in berry size, accompanied by a significant increase in dry matter content, for fruit harvested from DI-treated plants than from plants kept at or near field capacity.
Concomitant to this and where dry matter was increased, the concentration of sugars and some acids were generally higher in DI-derived fruit.
Fruits cv. Elsanta resulted in a 1.4-fold increase in fructose content (on a fresh weight basis) when grown under DI conditions.
However, cvs. Florence and Christine did not show significant variations in berry weight or any of the target analytes measured when grown under the conditions imposed in this study.
The results presented herein suggest that reducing water irrigation may be a viable alternative to increase fruit quality in cvs. Elsanta, Sonata, and Symphony, but may not have a negative impact on fruit quality of cvs. Christine and Florence.
Authors
J. Giné Bordonaba, L.A. Terry
Keywords
drought stress, sugars, sweetness, Fragaria x ananassa
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