Abstract
ABSTRACT Mineral nutrients have important role in plant metabolism, acting on specific vital metabolic pathways for the cell. Among the nutrients, we highlight silicon (Si), for promoting growth, improving post-harvest quality and plant productivity, as well as being able to induce resistance to pest and disease. In this sense, this study aimed to evaluate the productivity and post-harvest quality of strawberry fruits cultivars Aromas and Albion cultivated in organic system with four doses of foliar applications of SiO2 in pre-harvest (0, 5, 10, 15 g L-1), and refrigerated storage (8 days under refrigeration and 1 day at room temperature). The valuated traits were: mass loss, fruit mass, productivity, fruit firmness, soluble solids, titratable acidity, total phenolics, total anthocyanins, ascorbic acid and soluble solids titratable acidity ratio. The cultivar Aromas presented higher productivity per area (33.05 t ha-1), and more fruits per plot (479.42); however, higher average fruit mass was obtained in cultivar Albion (24.44 g), presenting better-quality fruits for fresh market. Soluble solids content, SS/TA ratio and ascorbic acid content were not influenced by silicon doses, however, refrigeration during 8 days and 1 day at room temperature provided reduction of fruit firmness, titratable acidity and, ascorbic acid content and increased soluble solids content and SS/TA ratio. Refrigeration attenuated significant reductions in anthocyanin content and, in addition, foliar silicon application promoted higher levels of anthocyanins in the fruits of both strawberry cultivars, increasing with the applied dose. The application of silicon was also efficient in maintaining fruit firmness of both cultivars.
Highlights
Os nutrientes minerais possuem funções importantes no metabolismo das plantas, atuando em rotas metabólicas específicas vitais para a célula
O teor de sólidos solúveis, relação solids content (SS)/AT e teor de ácido ascórbico não foram influenciados pelas doses de silício, porém o armazenamento sob refrigeração por 8 dias mais 1 dia em temperatura ambiente proporcionou redução da firmeza, da acidez titulável e do teor de ácido ascórbico e aumento no teor de sólidos solúveis e relação SS/AT
For the great majority of cultivated plants, including strawberry, Si can be considered as one beneficial element; studies about the effects of silicon on vegetables are scarce and the benefits of its use are related to structural functions and to plant defense (Wang & Galleta, 1998)
Summary
Os nutrientes minerais possuem funções importantes no metabolismo das plantas, atuando em rotas metabólicas específicas vitais para a célula. We can highlight modifications this element propitiates in plant physiology, since it promotes an increase in leaf chlorophyll content in leaf tissue, interferes with plant architecture, providing more erect leaves, increasing solar radiation interception and avoiding excessive self-shadowing, delays senescence, increases tissue stiffness (Epstein & Bloom, 2006), decreases transpiration rate and, provides higher photosynthetic efficiency, as it minimizes water loss (Korndörfer et al, 1999) This mineral can change the form of the compounds that are deposited in the tissues forming a silicon structure, which reduces water use and pest and phytopathogen attacks, since it interferes with penetration into the tissues (Reis et al, 2007). Several studies show benefits of using silicon in agricultural crops (rice, sugar cane, sorghum, millet, oats, wheat, corn, kikuyu grass, bermuda grass) and some non-grass species (tomato, lettuce, cucumber, strawberry, melon) (Wang & Galleta, 1998; Bae et al, 2010; Marodin et al, 2014), results about their effects on post-harvest quality of fruits and vegetables, mainly strawberry, are rare
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