Many
Trichoderma
spp. are successful plant beneficial microbial inoculants due to their ability to act as biocontrol agents with direct antagonistic activities to phytopathogens, and as biostimulants ...capable of promoting plant growth. This work investigated the effects of treatments with three selected
Trichoderma
strains (T22, TH1, and GV41) to strawberry plants on the productivity, metabolites and proteome of the formed fruits.
Trichoderma
applications stimulated plant growth, increased strawberry fruit yield, and favored selective accumulation of anthocyanins and other antioxidants in red ripened fruits. Proteomic analysis of fruits harvested from the plants previously treated with
Trichoderma
demonstrated that the microbial inoculants highly affected the representation of proteins associated with responses to stress/external stimuli, nutrient uptake, protein metabolism, carbon/energy metabolism and secondary metabolism, also providing a possible explanation to the presence of specific metabolites in fruits. Bioinformatic analysis of these differential proteins revealed a central network of interacting molecular species, providing a rationale to the concomitant modulation of different plant physiological processes following the microbial inoculation. These findings indicated that the application of
Trichoderma
-based products exerts a positive impact on strawberry, integrating well with previous observations on the molecular mechanisms activated in roots and leaves of other tested plant species, demonstrating that the efficacy of using a biological approach with beneficial microbes on the maturing plant is also able to transfer advantages to the developing fruits.
•Current state and future perspectives of commercial strawberry production are discussed.•Strawberry cultivars have been developed to curtail production challenges and satisfy fruit quality.•Extreme ...weather and pressure from pests and diseases are the biggest threats to strawberry production.•New protected environments production systems have been explored with advanced technology to reduce labor.•Alternative production, new cultivars, and management practices support emerging strawberry industry.
Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) is a popular fruit crop, having gained significant interest in the past several decades, thus increasing demand for specialty crops. Depending on the cropping system used, strawberry production can be either annual or perennial and many improvements in management practices, breeding, and new systems have helped to support the commercial strawberry industry. Nevertheless, strawberry production has faced many challenges that have put pressure on research teams across the world to develop new mechanisms of adaptation to meet the increasing demand for high-quality strawberry production. In this article, we compiled information about the current state and future perspectives of commercial strawberry production. The biggest threats to strawberry production are extreme weather and pressure from pests and disease. Cultivars have been developed to curtail some of these challenges and to satisfy consumer preferences regarding fruit quality. New crop management techniques have been developed, such as overhead irrigation and row covers for frost protection and steam or solarization for soil sanitization. In addition, new systems have been explored under protected environments, accompanied by advanced technology operations to reduce human labor. As production trends shift to accommodate increasing demand, the adoption of new production systems and technology, the creation of new cultivars, and new management practices will be important in supporting the growing industry.
Strawberry is one of the most popular fruits because of its sensorial and functional properties. However, strawberry crop is sensitive to salt stress conditions. Despite plants have plasticity, high ...salt concentrations induce molecular, biochemical, and physiological responses in plants. There is evidence that the abscisic acid (ABA) hormone acts as a signaling molecule under stress conditions; however, the molecular mechanisms involved in the synthesis and homeostasis of ABA and in the induction of phytochemical antioxidant compounds under stress conditions remain unclear. In this study, the effect of stress induced by NaCl (salt stress - SS), with or without the simultaneous application of ABA, on the ABA, phenylpropanoids and L-ascorbic acid (AsA) metabolisms were evaluated. The physiological aspects (Na, Cl and proline concentration, photosynthetic variables) were also studied. The results showed that salt stress increases the Na and Cl content in the leaves, affects photosynthetic variables and triggers the production of proline, pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside, total phenolic compounds and AsA content, alongside the upregulation of several genes from the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathways. These effects were accompanied by the induction of compounds and transcripts related to ABA biosynthesis, conjugation and catabolism. Otherwise, the exogenous application of ABA in salt stressed plants promotes a shift in gene expression and metabolism to mitigate the stress. Therefore, salt stress affects the metabolism of ABA, phenylpropanoids and AsA in strawberry increasing phytochemical composition which is strongly associated with an ABA-dependent mechanism.
•Salt stress affects photosynthetic variables and triggers the production of proline.•The content of phenylpropanoids and ascorbic acid was altered in the fruits.•Abscisic acid biosynthesis, conjugation and catabolism were also affected.•Several abscisic acid and phenylpropanoid related genes were up or downregulated.•Exogenous application of abscisic acid mitigates the effects of the salt stress.
Strawberry cultivation possesses unique features, including the need for high-quality seedlings adapted to the cultivation environment and proper fertigation management. These elements influence ...plant growth and production. This study evaluated the growth and dry matter partitioning of strawberry plants of the cultivar "Albion" at different seedling ages (0, 14, 28... 196 DAT) using two fertigation methods: open-loop and closed-loop systems. Fifteen evaluations occurred throughout the cultivation cycle, spanning from planting to 196 days after transplanting (DAT), with the study replicated over two consecutive years. We evaluated dry matter partitioning among roots, stems, leaves, senescent leaves, flowers, commercial fruits, and non-commercial fruits. We also measured root volume and length, besides counts of leaves, flowers, and both commercial and non-commercial fruits. Despite no significant differences between fertigation systems for most variables, the closed-loop system shows promise, contingent on proper nutrient solution management. The partitioning analysis revealed that fruits, followed by leaves, were the primary consumers of photoassimilates.
Society's demand for foods with high organoleptic and nutraceutical quality requires studies that identify superior cultivars and nutritional management that provides gains in quality attributes. The ...attributes pH, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), SS/TA ratio, total contend of flavonoids (FVT), anthocyanins (ATC), phenols compounds (TPC), vitamin C (Vit C) and total antioxidant activity (TAA) of pseudofruits of two cultivars of short days (Pircinque and Jônica) and two of neutral days (Albion and San Andreas) submitted to spraying with water or nutrients (PAN) (B, Zn and B + Zn) under semi-hydroponic system in Alto Vale do Itajaí/SC, Brazil. Pseudofruits from short-day cultivars have higher SS content and SS/AT ratio. PAN does not influence pH, SS, AT and SS/AT ratio. Strawberries from Jônica and Albion stand out for their high Vit C content. The application of Zn increases Vit C of the cultivars. The variation found in the levels of FVT, ATC and TAA, is mainly due to the genetics of each cultivar. The TAA correlated positively with the FvT and ATC content and negatively with SS. Higher TAA were observed in decreasing order for San Andreas, Jônica, Albion and Pircinque. Pircinque strawberries are sweeter, with higher SS and SS/AT ratio, but with lower TAA.
La demanda de la sociedad por alimentos con alta calidad organoléptica y nutracéutica requiere estudios que identifiquen cultivares superiores y un manejo nutricional que proporcione ganancias en los atributos de calidad. Los atributos pH, sólidos solubles (SS), acidez total titulable (TA), relación SS/AT, contenido total de flavonoides (FVT), antocianinas (ATC), compuestos fenólicos (CFT) y vitamina C (Vit C) y actividad antioxidante (AAT) de pseudofrutas de dos cultivares de fresa de día corto (Pircinque y Jônica) y dos de día neutro (Albion y San Andreas) sometidos a aspersión con agua o nutrientes (PAN) (B, Zn y B + Zn) en cultivo semi-hidropónico en Alto Vale do Itajaí/SC, Brasil. Las fresas de cultivares de días cortos tienen un mayor contenido de SS y una relación SS/AT. PAN no influye en la relación pH, SS, AT y SS/AT. Las fresas de los cultivares Jônica y Albion destacan por su alto contenido en Vit C. La aplicación de Zn incrementa el VIT C de los cultivares. La variación encontrada en los niveles de FT, ATC y AAT se debe principalmente a la genética de cada cultivar. La AAT se correlacionó positivamente con el contenido de FVT y ATC y se correlacionó negativamente con SS. Se observaron valores más altos de AAT, en orden descendente, para San Andreas, Jônica, Albion y Pircinque. Las pseudofrutas de Pircinque son más dulces, con mayor proporción SS y SS/AT, pero con menor AAT.
A exigência da sociedade por alimentos com alta qualidade organoléptica e nutracêutica requer estudos que identifiquem cultivares superiores e o manejo nutricional que proporcione ganhos nos atributos de qualidade. Foram analisados os atributos pH, sólidos solúveis (SS), acidez total titulável (AT), relação SS/AT, conteúdos totais de flavonoides (FVT), antocianinas (ATC), compostos fenólicos (CFT) e vitamina C (Vit C) e atividade antioxidante (AAT) dos pseudofrutos de dois cultivares de morango de dias curtos (Pircinque e Jônica) e dois de dias neutros (Albion e San Andreas) submetidos a pulverizações com água ou nutrientes (PAN) (B, Zn e B+Zn) sob cultivo semi-hidropônico no Alto Vale do Itajaí, SC. Morangos dos cultivares de dias curtos apresentam maior teor de SS e relação SS/AT. A PAN não influencia o pH, SS, AT e relação SS/AT. Morangos dos cultivares Jônica e Albion se destacam pelo alto conteúdo de Vit C. A aplicação de Zn aumenta a VIT C dos cultivares. A variação encontrada nos teores de FT, ATC e AAT, deve-se principalmente a genética de cada cultivar. A AAT correlacionou-se positivamente com o conteúdo de FVT e ATC e negativamente com SS. Maiores valores de AAT foram observados, em ordem decrescente, para San Andreas, Jônica, Albion e Pircinque. Pseudofrutos de Pircinque são mais doces, com maior SS e relação SS/AT, porém com menor AAT.
The objectives of this work were to investigate the Botrytis species that cause gray mold in strawberries in Paraná and to study their sensitivity to fungicides: procymidone (P), iprodione (I), ...boscalid (B), thiophanate-methyl (T), fluazinam (F), azoxystrobin (A) and difenoconazole (D). The identification of 150 isolates of Botrytis sp. was carried out by amplifying the DNA by PCR using specific primers. The sensitivity to fungicides was determined by in vitro assays with discriminatory doses and EC50 (effective concentration to inhibit 50% of the growth of the fungus), molecular characterization of mutations and ex vivo assays for disease control efficacy. Thirty phenotypes were selected from combinations (S-sensitive and R-resistant) for the EC50 studies. Molecular characterization was performed using specific primers for mutations in the cyt b, bos1 and β-tubulin genes to confirm the resistance genotype. Tests were carried out with fruit treated with the fungicides (P), (B), (F) and (A) x the different phenotypes. All isolates were confirmed as Botrytis cinerea. Forty-one isolates were classified as fungicide sensitive phenotypes and of these, six isolates showed resistance to all seven tested fungicides. The percentage of isolates resistant to the fungicides azoxystrobin, boscalid, difenoconazole, fluazinam, iprodione and procymidone was 90.7; 45.3; 33.3; 32.7; 44.0 and 43.3%, respectively. A total of 94.6% isolates were classified as highly resistant to thiophanate-methyl. The EC50 for the fungicides procymidone, fluazinam and boscalid ranged from less than 0.1 to greater than 100 μg/ml. For azoxystrobin, most isolates had an EC50 greater than 100 μg/ml. Isolates with more than one mutation for different fungicides were found. For the assay in fruits with infections from the field, only the fungicide fluazinam differed from the control treatment, showing lower final incidence of 33.3% and control efficiency of 55.6%. For the assay with inoculated fruits, the fungicide fluazinam best controlled the disease for the three isolates presenting an average final incidence of 33.3% and an average control efficiency of 61.9%. Therefore, disease management in the state of Paraná should be reviewed in terms of registering new fungicides to gray mold and the use of integrated management measures to reduce the reliance on fungicides.
•All isolates were confirmed as Botrytis cinerea.•Phenotypes with resistant to seven tested fungicides were detected.•Isolates with more than one mutation for different fungicides were found.•Fluazinam is the most efficient fungicide for the management of gray mold.•This study provides important information for integrated control of gray mold.
•Mild salt and drought stress improve strawberry fruit functional quality.•ABA metabolism and of its derivatives was affected by mild salt (SS) and drought (DS) stresses.•The mild stress applied did ...not reduce fruit yield.•Application of mild DS and SS may serve as an effective strategy to improve functional quality.
Strawberry crop is very sensitive to osmotic stress conditions. We investigated the effect of the stress induced by mild drought (DS) and salt (SS) stresses, on molecular, physiological, and metabolic processes in the strawberry crop (Fragaria ananassa), cv. Camarosa. The results showed that the fruit yield was not affected. Mild DS and SS also resulted in an increased content of phenolics, anthocyanins, and l-ascorbic acid, and an increased antioxidant activity. These effects were accompanied by increased levels of ABA and its derivatives (phaseic and dehydrophasic acids), alongside the upregulation of several genes involved on their synthesis. Therefore, the results obtained in this study suggest that mild DS and SS improve the functional quality of strawberry fruits through and ABA-dependent mechanism.
•Horticultural potential of strawberry cultivars was explored through multivariate analysis.•Phytochemical properties of ‘Fronteras’ and ‘Merced’ is described for the first time.•‘Camarosa’ and ...‘Merced’ presented the highest yield and number of fruits.•‘Aromas’ and ‘Camarosa’ presented the highest phytochemical properties of fruits.•‘Camarosa’ is recommended to producers who seek a dual purpose (production and quality).
Yield is commonly the main focus of strawberry producers. However, we must encourage the choice of cultivars to meet consumer demands for foods rich in bioactive compounds. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether strawberry cultivars produced in a greenhouse differ in their horticultural performance. An experiment with nine cultivars (‘Albion’, ‘Aromas’, ‘Camarosa’, ‘Camino Real’, ‘Fronteras’, ‘Merced’, ‘Monterey’, ‘Portola’ and ‘San Andreas’) was carried out in a randomized complete block design with six replications. Plant yield and fruit quality were evaluated. The application of multivariate analysis indicated the formation of heterogeneous groups among the nine cultivars studied, bringing together the cultivars mainly because of the similarity of fruit size and total polyphenol content. ‘Merced’ stood out as the most productive cultivar and generated the largest fruits, whereas ‘Camarosa’ produced the greatest number of strawberries. ‘Aromas’ and ‘Camarosa’ produced fruits with higher phytochemical properties than other cultivars. We conclude that strawberry cultivars differ in their horticultural performance. Among the nine analyzed cultivars, we suggest to producers the use of ‘Aromas’ and ‘Camarosa’ to obtain better phytochemical properties of strawberries, and ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Merced’ to obtain higher yield and number of fruits. ‘Camarosa’ is recommended for those producers who seek a dual purpose.
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