EVALUATION OF DROUGTH TOLERANCE OF STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS UNDER PROTECTED

CONDITIONS

Krzysztof Klamkowski, Waldemar Treder, Iwona Sowik, Anna Tryngiel-Gać, Agnieszka Masny

Research Institute of Horticulture, Skierniewice

The main objective of this study was to examine theresponse of strawberry cultivars to water deficiency byevaluating productivity and selected morphological andphysiological parameters.

Treatment:

• Optimal irrigation – water potential in the growing medium

maintained at a level of (-) 10 kPa,

• Reduced irrigation (stress treatment) – below (-) 30 kPa.

Physiological evaluation:

• Leaf gas exchange (net photosynthesis).

• Photosynthetic activity (chlorophyll fluorescsence).

• Leaf greenness (relative chlorophyll content).

Plant growth assessment:

• Fresh weight of plant organs.

• Laf surface area.

• Root system development.

Evaluation of plant yield

0

0,02

0,04

0,06

0,08

0,1

0,12

0,14

0,16

'Elsanta' 'Grandarosa' 'Pink Rosa' 'Honeoye'

[re

l. u

nits]

Actual photochemical efficiency of PSII

optimal irrigation water deficiency

a

dd

b

ccd

a

b

Net photosynthesis

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

'Elsanta' 'Grandarosa' 'Pink Rosa' 'Honeoye'

[µm

ol C

O2

m-2

s-1

]

optimal irrigation water deficiency

bc

b

c

a a

bc

c

a

15%

47%

32%

47%

optimal irrigation water deficiency

Total leaf surface area

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

'Elsanta' 'Grandarosa' 'Pink Rosa' 'Honeoye'

[cm

2p

lan

t-1]

c

bb

c

a

b

bc

b

Fresh weight of root system

0

5

10

15

20

25

'Elsanta' 'Grandarosa' 'Pink Rosa' 'Honeoye'

[g p

lan

t-1]

optimal irrigation water deficiency

c

a

d

c

b

bb

a

Fruit yield of stressed plants(% compared to control)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

'Elsanta' 'Grandarosa' 'Pink Rosa' 'Honeoye'

[%]

Water uptake by strawberry plants

Conclusions

1. Genotypic differences in drought tolerance among

strawberry cultivars were observed.

2. Photosynthetic activity of strawberry plants grown under

water deficiency conditions was decreased. Higher

reduction in net photosynthesis was observed in

‘Honeoye’ and ‘Grandarosa’ compared to the other

cultivars.

3. Growth inhibition in response to reduced water

availability was recorded in all cultivars tested.

Conclusions3. The highest yield was obtained from ‘Elsanta’ and ‘Pink

Rosa’ plants. The highest reduction in yield was observed

in ‘Honeoye’ and ‘Grandarosa’.

4. Cultivars ‘Elsanta’ and ‘Pink Rosa’ were evaluated as more

adaptable to water shortage. ‘Honeoye’ and ‘Grandarosa’

showed lower tolerance to water stress.

5. The level of water uptake depended on the amount of

solar radiation reaching the plants and was similar for the

cultivars examined.

”The sustainable improvement of European berryproduction, quality and nutrition value in a changingenvironment: Strawberries, Currants, Blackberries andRaspberries”.

Work package: Improved cultivation techniques.Task 2.3. Reducing environmental impact.Subtask 2.3.3 Improved substrate, nutrient and water useefficiency.