Characteristics of Fragaria vesca Yield Parameters and Anthocyanin Accumulation under Water Deficit Stress.

Rytis Rugienius,Vidmantas Stanys,Tadeusas Siksnianas,Vaiva Kazanaviciute,Audrius Sasnauskas,Vidmantas Bendokas

doi:10.3390/plants10030557

Rytis Rugienius, Vidmantas Stanys + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030557

Copy DOI

Abstract

Plants exposed to drought stress conditions often increase the synthesis of anthocyanins—natural plant pigments and antioxidants. However, water deficit (WD) often causes significant yield loss. The aim of our study was to evaluate the productivity as well as the anthocyanin content and composition of berries from cultivated Fragaria vesca “Rojan” and hybrid No. 17 plants (seedlings) grown under WD. The plants were grown in an unheated greenhouse and fully irrigated (control) or irrigated at 50% and 25%. The number of berries per plant and the berry weight were evaluated every 4 days. The anthocyanin content and composition of berries were evaluated with the same periodicity using HPLC. The effect of WD on the yield parameters of two evaluated F. vesca genotypes differed depending on the harvest time. The cumulative yield of plants under WD was not less than that of the control plants for 20–24 days after the start of the experiment. Additionally, berries accumulated 36–56% (1.5–2.3 times, depending on the harvest time) more anthocyanins compared with fully irrigated plants. Our data show that slight or moderate WD at a stable air temperature of about 20 °C positively affected the biosynthesis of anthocyanins and the yield of F. vesca berries.

Highlights

Abiotic stresses, including drought, have detrimental effects on the yield of various crops in different parts of the world, and agriculture in many regions has become uncompetitive as a result of this yield instability
Water deficit is generally associated with a reduction in the size and yield of strawberry fruits
Berry ripening dynamics were affected by extreme air temperature, which increased to 24 ◦C outside starting on 8 May 2013

Summary

Introduction

Abiotic stresses, including drought, have detrimental effects on the yield of various crops in different parts of the world, and agriculture in many regions has become uncompetitive as a result of this yield instability. Some studies have demonstrated that water deficit might increase the dry matter content, improve the concentration of health-related compounds, and improve the taste of strawberry fruits [3,4,5,6,7]. Studies to determine the minimum necessary amount of water for crop development are required to save water and/or energy, and to improve plant fitness to resist biotic and abiotic stresses, as well as improve nutritional, functional, and sensorial food properties [5,8]

Objectives

Methods

Results