Influence of foliar application of 5-sulfosalicylic acid, malic acid, putrescine and potassium nitrate on vegetative growth and reproductive characteristics of Strawberry cv. ‘Selva’

Abstract

In order to study the effect of foliar application of 5-sulfosalicylic acid, malic acid, putrescine and potassium nitrate on vegetative growth and reproductive characteristics of strawberry cv. Selva as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with 4 replications which the factors included 5-sulfosalicylic acid at three levels (0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 mM), malic acid at three levels (1.5, 2.5 and 5 mM), putrescine at two levels (1 and 2 mM) and potassium nitrate at two levels (1 and 2 %). As result has shown 5sulfosalicylic acid at 2.5 mM and potassium nitrate at 2% concentration increased vegetative growth (dry weight, leaf area, length of roots), number of flowers, and weight of primary and secondary. 5-sulfosalicylic acid at 2.5 mM and malic acid at 5 mM of increased total phenolics, flavonoids, and non-flavonoids of strawberry but other treatments did not have a significant impact on this characteristic. The highest percentage of total soluble solids, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid was attained in fruits treated with 2.5 mM of foliar 5-sulfosalicylic acid and the lowest, was achieved in control