Winter Dawn Research Articles

Growth, yield and economic analysis of strawberry under nutrient film technique of hydroponic system

An experiment entitled “Growth, yield and economic analysis of strawberry c.v. Winter Dawn under close Hydroponics system” was conducted in Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. A Randomized Block Design was adopted as a method for analysis. The experiment included 9 treatments with 3 replication, which included 20 plants of strawberry in each treatment. The quantity of nutrients varies in each treatment from T1- T9 with respect to the timing of flow and amount of water used. The timing of flow of nutrients in each replication was 24hr./day, 18 hr./day, 12hr./day respectively . Out of all the treatments T1 turned out to the best combination for the growth due to suitable amount of nutrients and appropriate timing for strawberry in hydroponics setup. The yield was also more in the treatment T1 as compared to other treatments. The benefit cost ratio was recorded best in T1 set up, i.e. 1:1.229.

Effect of Foliar Application of Iron (Fe) and Zinc (Zn) on Growth, Yield and Quality of Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) Cv. Winter Dawn

An experiment on strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) cv. winter dawn was conducted during December 2021 to April 2022, in Horticulture Research Farm of Horticulture Department, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P) India. The experiment was performed on strawberry variety of winter dawn. There are 16 treatments, viz., T0 (water spray),T1(Zn 0.2%+Fe 0.2%),T2 ( Zn 0.4%+Fe 0.4%),T3 ( Zn 0.6%+Fe 0.6%),T4(Zn 0.2%+Fe 0.4%),T5 (Zn 0.2%+Fe 0.6%)T6(Zn 0.4%+Fe 0.2%)T7 (Zn 0.4%+Fe 0.6%)T8(Zn 0.6%+Fe0.4%)T9(Zn 0.6%+Fe 0.2%) ,T10 (Zn 0.2%),T11(Zn 0.4%),T12(Zn 0.6%) ,T13(Fe 0.2%),T14 (Fe 0.4%),T15 (Fe 0.6%) replicated thrice in Randomized Block Design (RBD). The results of the present investigation, regarding the cultivation of strawberry with different concentrations of Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe) found as the best option for higher productivity whereas the treatment T3 with concentration of Zn (0.6% )+ Fe (0.6%) showed the best result in terms of plant height at 30 days to transplanting (8.1 cm), 60 days to transplanting (15.4 cm) and 90 days to transplanting (22.1 cm), Number of leaves plant-1 at 30 days to transplanting (7.3), 60 days to transplanting (21.3) and 90 days to transplanting (27.4), Plant Spread (27.2 cm), runner plant-1 (5.9), yield/ha (6.0 t), fruit length (4.3 cm), fruit weight (29.3 g), fruit diameter (3.4 cm), TSS (9.3o Brix), showed the best results in terms of vegetative growth, yield, quality. Hence the T3 Zn (0.6%) + Fe (0.6%) is best suited for the farmers in terms of growth, yield, quality and net returns.

Response of strawberry (Fragaria x anannasa) genotypes under protected condition

Strawberry is mainly a temperate fruit crop but now it is being grown under subtropical and tropical conditions as well due to existence of wide range of genotypes. These genotypes need to be evaluated for their performance under different growing environment preferably under protectedconditions. The experiment was carried out at Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab during 2018-19 to determine the role of growing conditions and the genotype × growing conditions interaction for commercial cultivation of strawberry under two growing conditions,polytunnel and shade net for twenty-six quantitative traits. The data confirms significant difference among genotypes for plant height and plant spread where better growth was reported under polytunnel at early phase, while in later phase the growth was better under shade net. ‘Winter Dawn’, ‘Hadar’, ‘E1-13#32’, ‘Barak’, ‘San Andreas’, ‘Sweet Charlie’ and ‘Camarosa’ failed to produce runners while in other genotypes, the runner production was reported to be significantly better under shade net than polytunnel. The chlorophyll index, leaf area index, average fruit yield per plant and all the quality attributes were significantly affected by genotypes, growing conditions and their interaction. The genotypes grown under polytunnel outperformed that of shade net with highest mean yield per plant in ‘Winter Dawn’followed by‘Hadar’ and ‘Camarosa’.

Effect of Different Soil Amendment Along with Mulching Material under Polyhouse Condition in Stawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch) cv. Winter Dawn

An investigation was carried in experimental field of Department of Horticulture, SHUATS (October 2021- March 2022). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 19 treatments and each treatment replicated 3 times. The study revealed that maximum plant height (18.16 cm), number of leaves (15), maximum plant spread in N-S (21.11 cm ) and E-W (20.11 cm), minimum days taken to first flowering (36 days), maximum number of flowers/plant (20), minimum number of days to fruit setting (5.88), maximum total number of fruits/plant (16), berry length (42.27 mm), berry width (37.11 mm), berry weight (25.32 g), maximum yield/plant (371.95 g), maximum yield (q/ha) (165.31 g), lowest acidity (0.80%), highest vitamin-c (55 mg/100 g) and maximum benefit cost ratio (4.15) were observed under T17 (Vermicompost + Plastic mulch). Therefore, T17 (Vermicompost + Plastic mulch) showed best result as compared to other treatments.

Biochemical and Yield Performance of Strawberry Cultivars Grown Under Polytunnel

Strawberry is an important crop of temperate horticulture in India. There are several genotypes have beendeveloped for getting qualitative and quantitative attributes in production of strawberry. Less area intemperate region enhances the introduction of new strains. Current study was undertaken at the Horticulturalfarm, and laboratory, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, in 2020-21.The biochemical and quantitative attributes of strawberry genotypes were analysed in 10 genotypes viz.,Sweet Charlie, Florida, Tioga, Camerosa, Winter Dawn, Swiss, Red coat, San Andreas, Elista and Robinsonunder sub-tropical climatic conditions of Punjab. Experiment was laid down in a Randomized Block Design(RBD) with three replications. Results revealed that among all the genotypes, cv. Winter Dawn had thehigher yield of heaviest fruit, cv. Tioga had the highest total soluble solid (TSS), ascorbic acid and totalsugar whereas, cv. Sweet Charlie contained minimum acidity and cv. Florida hold maximum juice content.The finding can be helpful for grower to achieve consumers demand and researchers in crop improvement.

Effect of Different Plant Growth Regulators on In-vitro Regeneration in Varieties of Strawberry

The present study was carried out in College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya during 2017-18. The objective was to study the effect of growth regulators on in vitro regeneration in four varieties of strawberry viz., Camarosa, Chandler, Festival and Winter Dawn. Best sterilization results were obtained for explants sterilized using Tween 20, 0.1% Bavistin, 0.1% Ascorbic acid + 0.1% Streptomycin and 0.1% Mercuric chloride for 30, 45, 40 and 8 minutes respectively. Sixteen different concentrations and combinations of growth regulators were used out of which regeneration from runners was successfully observed in six combinations of growth regulators. MS media supplemented with 5 mg/l 6-Benzylaminopurine + 1 mg/l Indole-3-acetic Acid produced maximum percent survival of explants and maximum number of shoots while MS medium supplemented with 4 mg/l 6-Benzylaminopurine + 1 mg/l Indole-3-acetic Acid produced the highest shoot length. Rooting was observed in half strength MS media supplemented with 0.5 mg/l Indole-3-butyric acid. Rooted plantlets were transferred to soil where they showed 66.67% survival. MS medium supplemented with Kinetin were inferior in performance for shoot development to MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of 6- Benzylaminopurine

Uses of Plant Growth Regulators and Biofertilizers in Fruit Crops: A Review

Plant growth regulators are extremely important natural hormones which control the growth and the physiological factors within the plant. They are naturally occurring as well as synthetic. PGRs like Auxins, ethylene, cytokinins and gibberellins are the growth inhibitors and growth retardants. The foliar application of plant growth regulators helped in increasing the quality of the fruit crops. Auxin is required for fruit retention in sweet cherry, litchi, grapevine, snake fruit and tomato. Most commonly used auxins are IBA, NAA, IAA, 2,4D etc. IBA at the concentration of 4000 ppm is the best plant growth regulator for rooting in cuttings. Gibberellins (GA) are diterpene plant hormones that influence various aspects of growth and development through complex biosynthetic processes. Application of GA with combination of Zinc and pruning showed better performance in fruit weight, ascorbic acid, and reduction in pre-harvest fruit drop. Repeated applications of brassinosteroid have a long-lasting effect on strawberry cv. Winter Dawn physiological growth. Triacontanol (TRIA), natural plant growth hormone in fruit crops. It regulates a variety of physiological processes in plants. Salicylic acid (SA) is a plant hormone best recognized for modulating host responses in response to pathogen infection.SA treatments boosted crop productivity and fruit quality criteria such as firmness, aril color, and individual sugar and organic acid concentrations at harvest. It is revealed by many studies that the application of biofertilizer play an essential role for increasing the sustainability of the soil and also enhance the organic matter content, aeration, fertility, availability of micro and macronutrients with in the soil which are the essential things for the better survival of the plant and results into the good quality and higher yield from the plant. The present review encompasses the use and the effect of different PGR’s and biofertilizer on the fruit crops.

​Response of Strawberry Cultivars to Different Planting Dates and Growing Conditions in Jorhat, Assam

Background: Strawberry has started gaining attention in the Assam region since past few years. But, due to sufficient knowledge in varieties and cultivation package, farmers were not able to yield satisfying results. Methods: In this context, an experiment was conducted to study the performance of various strawberry varieties namely Sabrina, Winter Dawn, Chandler, Sweet Charlie, Cristal, Selva and Camarosa with different dates of planting like 1st November, 15th November, 1st December and 15th December under open conditions and fifty per cent shade net conditions. Result: Results revealed that the Variety Sweet Charlie was found to have the highest values of Anthocyanin content (21.07 mg/100 g and 18.71 mg/100 g), total soluble solids content (7.62°Brix and 6.88°Brix) and Total sugars (6.07% and 4.60%) in both the growing conditions. In addition Sweet Charlie also showed impressive results amongst the varieties in calcium content (9.51 mg/100 g and 9.41 mg/100 g) and Phosphorus content (1.15 mg/100 g and 1.09 mg/100 g) in open conditions and fifty percent shade net conditions respectively. Finally, the best variety found was Sweet Charlie and the best date of planting was found to be the 15th of November which showed highest values of all the biochemical parameters along with the mineral content.

Development, Fruit setting and Pomological characteristics in Strawberry (Fragaria ananasa Duch.) as affected by Biofertilizers under vertical farming system. Cv. Winter dawn

A field experiment was carried out during 2021-2022 to see the Development, Fruit setting and Pomological characteristics in Strawberry ( Fragaria ananasa Duch.) as affected by Biofertilizers under vertical farming system. Cv. Winter dawn with 10 treatments including control in combinations of organic and microbial sources of nutrients (Vermicompost, FYM, Azotobacter, Azospirillum and PSB) replicated thrice with 3 plants per replication in Randomized Block Design. Observations were recorded for vegetative growth, fruit yield, quality. In different combinations (biofertilizers and organic manure) the treatment T9 (Soil (50%) +Vermicompost (50%) + Azotobacter (2g) + Azospirillum (2g) recorded highest plant height, plant spread, number of leaves and leaf area as compared to T7 (Soil (50%) + FYM (50%) + PSB (2g) + Azotobacter (2g). Plant treatment T9 (Soil (50%) +Vermicompost (50%) + Azotobacter (2g) + Azospirillum (2g)) registered earliest flowering and also highest number of flowers per plant. The maximum fruit weight, number of fruits per plant and yield were recorded with plants treated with T9 (Soil (50%) +Vermicompost (50%) + Azotobacter (2g) + Azospirillum (2g) followed by T7 (Soil (50%) + FYM (50%) + PSB (2g) + Azotobacter (2g) at 90 DAP followed by T8 (Soil (50%) + coir pith (50%) + Azospirillum (2g) + PSB (2g) treatment. The maximum Benefit: Cost ratio (1: 3.39) was recorded in the T9 (Soil (50%) +Vermicompost (50%) + Azotobacter (2g) + Azospirillum (2g) than T7 (Soil (50%) + FYM (50%) + PSB (2g) + Azotobacter (2g) due to its lower cost of production. The highest yield and best quality fruit were recorded in the combination of T9 (Soil (50%) +Vermicompost (50%) + Azotobacter (2g) + Azospirillum (2g).

Potting substrate effect on yield and quality of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) in terrace gardening

Terrace gardening or rooftop gardening is becoming popular in urban and peri-urban areas of metro cities worldwide including in India. Among various crops suitable for growing in terrace garden, strawberry is a popular one as being an important annual herbaceous plant with delicious fruits which can be easily grown in pots or containers including grow bags filled with different pottingsubstrates. In the present study, different combinations of soil, organic manure (vermi-compost and FYM) and cocopeat were tested for growth, yield and physico-chemical characteristics of two strawberry cultivars (Winter Dawn and Sweet Charlie). Winter dawn was found better than Sweet Charlie for measured growth and yield parameters, and potting substrates had similar effect on both the cultivars as no interaction effect was noticed. Combination of Soil + vermi-compost + cocopeat or soil + FYM + cocopeat in equal proportion (1:1:1) was found most appropriate potting substrate for strawberry cultivation, hence suggested as a suitable growing medium for production of strawberries in terrace or rooftop gardening in peri-urban areas of Delhi/ National Capital Territory. Further investigation is needed to standardize cost-effective management agro-techniques of strawberry cultivation in terrace garden involving some other cultivars, nutrient management and environment protective structures and so on

Effect of organic sources of nutrients on growth, yield and quality of strawberry (Fragaria X ananassa Duch.) CV. Winter Dawn

The Experiment “Effect of an organic source of nutrients on growth yield and quality of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) cv. Winter Dawn” was carried out during the year 2021-2022 in the Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology & Sciences Prayagraj in November 2021 to March 2022. The result revealed that treatment T8 FYM (7.5t/ha) + Vermicompost (3.18t/ha) + PSB(5kg/ha) + Azotobacter (5kg/ha) was found to be best in terms of maximum plant height (14.26 cm), plant spread (23.8 cm), number of leaves per plant (9.58), number of days to first flowering (68.33), number of flower per plant (22.8), number of days taken to first fruit set (5.63), Number of fruit per plant (18.3), Fruit yield per plant (504.44g), fruit yield (45.3 t ha-1), Vitamin C (87.94 mg/100g, acidity (0.33%), Total soluble solids (12.41°Brix)

Response of Organic Manure and Azotobacter on Quality and Leaf Nutrient Status of Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) Cv. Winter Dawn

The field experiment was conducted during two subsequent years, i.e., 2017-18 and 2018-19 at the Department of Horticulture, Hisar with aim to study the effect of organic manures and Azotobacter on quality and leaf nutrient status of strawberry cv. Winter Dawn under hi-tech greenhouse conditions of Haryana. In this experiment, organic manures in combination with biofertilizers comprised of nine treatments, viz., T1: Sand: FYM (3:1), T2: Sand: FYM (2:1), T3: Sand: Vermicompost (3:1), T4: Sand: Vermicompost (2:1), T5: Sand: FYM (3:1) + Azotobacter, T6: Sand: FYM (2:1) + Azotobacter, T7: Sand: Vermicompost (3:1) + Azotobacter. T8: Sand: Vermicompost (2:1) + Azotobacter and T9: Control (Sand); were tested as potting media in complete randomized block design. Maximum TSS, ascorbic acid, anthocyanin content and minimum acidity content and leaf with maximum N, P and K content were observed under sand: vermicompost (2:1) + Azotobacter in comparison to the other treatments. The results of this experiment revealed that, the combination of sand: vermicompost (2:1) with Azotobacter showed significant influence on leaf nutrient content of strawberry and produced better results with respect to quality of strawberry fruits.

INFLUENCE OF ORGANIC MANURES AND GIBBERELLIC ACID ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF STRAWBERRY (Fragaria X ananassa DUCH.)

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of organic manures and growth regulators on the growth and yield of two varieties of strawberry namely ‘Sweet Charlie’ and ‘Winter Dawn’. Six treatments were taken combining three organic manures viz. Vermicompost @ 3.0 t/ha, Mustard oil cake @ 1.0 t/ha and Neem cake @ 1.0 t/ha and two concentrations of gibberellic acid (GA3) viz. 75 ppm and 100 ppm along with a control. Foliar application of GA3 was carried out at 40 and 60 days after planting whereas organic manures were applied as basal dose. Results of the study suggested that higher doses i.e. 100 ppm of GA3 along with vermicompost exhibited more vegetative growth whereas 75 ppm GA3 resulted in higher fruit set and yield in both the varieties. It was found that vermicompost @ 3.0 t/ha combined with 100 ppm GA3 recorded the highest plant height (24.7 cm and 21.4 cm) and numbers of leaves per plant (46.0 and 68.7) in both Sweet Charlie and Winter Dawn varieties, respectively. Whereas, highest fruit diameter (3.3cm and 3.4cm), fruit length (4.6cm and 4.8cm), fruit weight (18.2 g and 17.9 g), number of fruits per plant (24.6 and 32.0), yield per plant (447.8 g and 572.1 g) and yield per hectare (18.80 t and 24.03 t) were recorded under vermicompost @ 3.0 t/ha in combination with 75 ppm GA3 in both Sweet Charlie and Winter Dawn varieties, respectively. It was observed that Winter Dawn variety produced a 28.0% higher yield as compared to Sweet Charlie under the best treatment i.e. vermicompost @ 3.0 t/ha in combination with 75 ppm GA3.

Protocol for micropropagation of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) cv. ‘Sweet Charlie’ and ‘Winter Dawn’

The objective of this study was to develop a protocol for large-scale propagation of strawberry cv. ‘Sweet Charlie’ and ‘Winter Dawn’ using the micropropagation technique. Shoot cultures were obtained from shoot tips on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 4% table sugar, 0.75% agar, 5 mg L−1 6-benzyladenine and 0.01 mg L−1 kinetin. These shoots were multiplied and maintained on MS medium with 1 mg L–1 6-benzyladenine and 0.1 mg L–1 kinetin. Rooting of in vitro raised shoots was successfully conducted by pulse treatment with 500 mg L–1 indole-3-butyric acid for 30 s and subsequent culturing in MS medium with 1 mg L–1 indole-3-butyric acid, 0.1 g L–1 activated charcoal and 6% table sugar. Plants were successfully acclimatized and survived in field conditions.

Foliar application of micronutrients enhances growth, yield and quality of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.)

The investigation was carried out At Navsari Agricultural University, Waghai during 2018-19 to evaluate the effect of foliar application of Zn and Fe on growth, yield and quality of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. Winter Dawn. The ZnSO4,7H2O and FeSO4,7H2O were used as a source for Zn and Fe, respectively and applied as foliar sprays individually (0.2 % and 0.4%) as well as in combination to the strawberry plants at 30, 60 and 75 days after planting of uniform runners. The plants which received no spraying were treated as control. The results indicated that foliar spraying of 0.4 % ZnSO4,7H2O + 0.2 %FeSO4,7H2O significantly increased the plant spread, number of leaves, number of crowns, leaf area, length of petiole, number of runners, number of flowers, number of fruits, fruit weight, marketable fruit percentage, marketable and total fruit yield over control plants. However, fruits with significantly the highest total soluble solid, acidity and anthocyanin content were recorded with the foliar application of 0.4 % ZnSO4,7H2O + 0.4 % FeSO4,7H2O. However, the micronutrient treatments failed to influence any significant effect on days taken to 50.0 % flowering, fruit firmness and acidity content of the strawberry fruits. All the parameters were recorded minimum in plants which received no spraying.

Fruit characters and yield of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) as influenced by different concentrations of gibberellic acid

The effect of gibberellic acid concentrations on fruit characters and yield of strawberry was studied on two varieties, namely ‘Sweet Charlie’ and ‘Winter Dawn’ during November, 2018 to March, 2019. Foliar application of three different concentration of GA3 viz. 50 ppm, 75 ppm and 100 ppm were done at 40 days and 60 days after planting. Experimental results showed that GA3 @ 75 ppm had the best effect to increase yield components and yield of both the varieties. Under GA3 @ 75 ppm, Winter Dawn exhibited higher fruit diameter (3.38cm) and fruit length (4.74cm) as compared to Sweet Charlie (3.28cm fruit diameter and 4.60cm fruit length). Though the fruit weight was slightly higher in Sweet Charlie (18.36g) as against Winter Dawn (17.90g) under the best treatment i.e. 75 ppm GA3 the yield recorded was higher in Winter Dawn (573.62g/plant and 24.04t/ha) as against Sweet Charlie (445.43g/plant and18.73t/ ha) due to higher number of fruits (32.44/plant) produced by Winter Dawn as compared to Sweet Charlie (24.94/plant). So, Winter Dawn variety produced 28.35% higher yield as compared to Sweet Charlie under GA3 @ 75 ppm treatment.

Effect of phosphorous in combination with biofertilizers on growth, yield and quality of strawberry cv. Winter Dawn

Aim: This study was carried out to investigate the effect of biofertilizers in combination with phosphorus rates on growth, yield and quality of strawberry. Methodology: The experiment was conducted during the year 2017-18 and 2018-19 at hi-tech greenhouse of the Department of Horticulture, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The experiment was arranged in a factorial completely randomized design with four phosphorus fertilizer rates (0, 80, 100 and 120% RDP per plant) and three biofertilizers (control, VAM and PSB) at five replicates. Growth and yield parameter were estimated. Quality traits, viz., TSS, acidity, ascorbic acid, anthocyanin and juice content of fruits were also measured at maturity stages. Results: All the possible combinations of phosphorous and biofertilizers were found to have significant influence on the vegetative growth, yield and quality parameters of strawberry. The minimum number of days taken to first flowering, maximum fruit weight, size and fruit yield per plant were recorded with 100% RDP along with VAM. TSS and ascorbic acid were noted maximum with combined application of 120% RDP and biofertilizers. Interpretation: VAM and PSB inoculation in combination with 100 percent recommended dose of phosphorous showed maximum vegetative growth, yield and quality of strawberry as compared to non-biofertilizer inoculation.

Efficacy of Foliar Feeding of Brassinosteroid to Improve Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Strawberry (Fragaria × Ananassa Duch.) Grown under Subtropical Plain

ABSTRACT The present investigation was carried out to study the efficacy of foliar feeding of brassinosteroid on growth, yield and quality of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. Winter Dawn. The experimental finding revealed that the physiological growth in terms of leaf number, specific leaf weight, leaf relative water content and total chlorophyll content in the leaf has increased significantly in all the brassinosteroid treated plant with maximum in the treatment consist of three repeated foliar spray of brassinosteroid at vegetative, flowering and again at fruiting stage, irrespective of their concentration. Fruit yield (31.93 tonnes ha−1) with earliest ripening (within 13.67 days after fruit setting) and biggest fruit size (18.43 cc) was obtained in the treatment of three brassinosteroid spray @ 0.2 ppm each at vegetative, flowering and fruiting stage. Further, total soluble solid (TSS): acid ratio and reducing sugar also was measured maximum (21.71 and 5.20%, respectively) in three repeated spray of brassinosteroid @ 0.2 ppm. Hence, it can be concluded that the foliar feeding of brassinosteroid @ 0.2 ppm each at vegetative, flowering and fruiting stage is the best treatment to increase the yield potentiality of strawberry cv. Winter Dawn with improved fruit quality under subtropical condition of Bihar, India.

Response of strawberry fruits to low temperature and ambient storage conditions

The fruit of ‘Winter Dawn’ and ‘Chandler’ strawberries were harvested at commercial maturity on the attainment of fully red ripe stage, and packed in 200g plastic punnets. The fruits were then stored under two different environmental conditions viz., cold storage (5±1°C; 90-95% RH) and at ambient temperature (28-30°C; 60-65% RH). Fruits were evaluated for transformation in physical and biochemical attributes during the storage period. Results revealed that fruits stored under cold temperature conditions significantly reduced PLW, fruit firmness and rotting, and also maintained various quality traits viz., total soluble solids, sugars, acidity, ascorbic acid, anthocyanin content, antioxidant properties and sensory quality as compared to ambient temperature during the storage period. The studies highlighted that fruits of both the cultivars could be stored up to 6-9 days and 2 days at low temperature and ambient conditions, respectively.

Comparative phytochemical analysis of five Egyptian strawberry cultivars (Fragaria×ananassaDuch.) and antidiabetic potential of Festival and Red Merlin cultivars

This work aims to explore the differences in phytochemical composition and biological properties of five strawberry hybrids (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.), and highlights the non-edible part (byproduct) as a source of self-remedy natural herb along with fruits. HPLC/DAD/HRESIMS technique was used in the dereplication of ten ethanolic extracts of five strawberry cultivars leaves and fruits (Festival, Red Merlin, Suzana, Tamar and Winter Dawn). Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were established using Folin–Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric assays, respectively. Ethanolic extracts of leaves and fruits from Festival and Red Merlin cultivars were selected to investigate their anti-hyperglycemic activity using streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Oxidative stress markers, lipid profile and kidney and liver function tests were assessed. The results revealed different chemical profiles of ten samples with the identification of 37 metabolites, represented mainly as flavonoids and phenolic acid derivatives. Phytochemical investigation resulted in the isolation of seven known phenolic compounds; quercetin, kaempferol, p-coumaric acid, p-tyrosol, methyl gallate, trans-tiliroside and eutigoside A. Suzana cultivar was the richest cultivar with flavonoids and total phenolics except for the total flavonoid content in leaves referred to Festival cultivar. Ethanolic extract of leaves, especially Festival cultivar was the most bioactive one. The results established the role of strawberry leaves along with fruits as an antioxidant and hypoglycemic natural remedy.