Influence of pre-harvest application of calcium and micro-nutrients on growth, yield, quality and shelf-life of strawberry cv Chandler

Abstract

Studies were carried out in Chandler cultivar of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) to assess whether preharvest foliar application of calcium (Ca),iron (Fe) and zinc(Zn) influences vegetative growth,flowering, fruit yield and quality during 2010 and 2011. Treatments consisted of CaCl₂ (0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6%),FeSO₄(0.2%,0.4% and 0.6%),ZnSO₄ (0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6%), while the plants sprayed with water served as the control. Results indicated that plants treated with 0.6% FeSO₄ showed maximum plant height (20.34 cm), plant spread (31.02 cm), number of leaves/plant (19.63), leaf area (64.74 cm²), number of flowers/plant (27.65), number of fruits/plant (21.02), yield/ha (24.32 tonnes) and per cent berry set (75.82). However, the plants treated with 0.6% ZnSO₄ showed highest fruit weight (12.00 g), fruit length (3.68 cm), fruit diameter (2.62 cm), fruit volume (15.74 cc), TSS (8.31 0B), ascorbic acid (60.88 mg/100g pulp), TSS:acid ratio (11.70) and lowest acidity (0.716 %). Highest shelf-life of fruits (2.50 days) and maximum crude protein (10.79 %) were recorded in 0.6 % CaCl₂ treated plants. Studies indicated that pre-harvest foliar application of calcium, iron and zinc are quiet useful for improving vegetative growth, quality and shelf-life of strawberry cv. Chandler and getting higher marketable value in subtropical region.