Productivity, biocontrol and postharvest fruit quality of strawberry cultivar ‘Clery’ using plant growth promoting microorganisms

Abstract

Strawberry is the most economic important soft fruit in the world, and its production is susceptible to orchard and postharvest losses due to its high susceptibility to fungal diseases. In the last two decades, new agricultural techniques, which include application of plant growth promoting microorganisms, have been developed. Their activity is reflected in improving root volume and nutrient uptake from the soil, increased fruit yield and quality, and as an alternative to the use of synthetic fungicides in protection of disease and insects. In this study an effects of the three microbiological preparations on phenological and productivity of plants, chemical and physical properties of the fruits, and the control of B. cinerea on strawberry were studied. Total marketable fruit yield per plant ranged from 0.38 kg (control) to 0.57 kg (Fitohelp). The plants treated with T. harzianum had the highest fruit mass (34.2 g) at the first harvest, while Fitohelp-treated plants had the highest fruit mass (24.3 g) at the second harvest. The decrease in fruit mass and firmness after storage were 3.5% (Bacterie) to 9.1% (control), 10.1% to 35.2% (T. harzianum), respectively. The highest efficacy in controlling B. cinerea in storage fruits was obtained with the combination of synthetic fungicides and Fitohelp (92.86%). Plants treated with Fitohelp and T. harzianum had significantly higher values of yield of marketable fruits, while a combination of conventional fungicides and preparations based on B. subtilis was most effective in control of B. cinerea.

Keywords:

• Botrytis cinerea
• fruit quality
• harvest
• storage
• yield

Reviewing Editor:

• Tejada Manuel, Cristalografía, Mineralogía y Química Agrícola, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain

Subjects:

• Science
• Environment & Agriculture
• Agriculture & Environmental Sciences
• Bioscience
• Biotechnology
• Microbiology

Author contributions

B.Dj., M.S. and N.T. designed the experiment; M.S. and N.Te. prepared samples for laboratory analysis; B.Dj., G.Z. and N.T. wrote the paper; N.Te. and G.Z. performed statistical analysis; N.T. and B.Dj. analysed the chemical properties; M.S. and N.M. performed proof reading and manuscript correcting. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia and the Faculty of Agriculture, e.n. 451-03-47/2023-01/200116.

Notes on contributors

Boban Djordjević

Boban Đorđević, full professor at the University of Belgrade-Faculty of Agriculture, research area is growing fruit trees and preserving fruits, as well as improving the biochemical properties of fruits. He has been employed at the Faculty of Agriculture since 2005.