Effect of salicylic acid application on growth, production, fungal decay, and overall quality of strawberry

Salicylic acid (SA), a plant growth regulator, induces various physiological and metabolic processes that affect plant growth and development. A study conducted at PMAS-Arid Agriculture University in 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 examined the preharvest application of SA on the growth and fruit quality of strawberry (cv. Chandler). A 4 mM concentration of SA was found to be the most effective, improving plant height (14.60 cm), average number of leaves per plant (5.27), leaf area (68.40 cm²), and average fruit weight (13.53 g). In terms of postharvest parameters, SA-treated strawberries showed higher total soluble solids (5.10 °Brix), ascorbic acid content (12.41 mg/100 ml of juice), and total sugar content (6.54%). A similar trend was observed in the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, and CAT) as well as physiological parameters such as photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance. The SA treatments helped maintain the overall quality of the strawberries and also reduced damage caused by fungal decay. The data revealed that the minimum mean fungal decay (4.28%) was recorded after 4 days of storage, while the maximum percentage of fungal decay (20.38%) was observed after 12 days of storage. Therefore, foliar application of SA at 4 mM is recommended as the most effective treatment for enhancing strawberry growth and fruit quality. The study explains how SA can be used to preserve the quality of strawberries before harvest. An additional goal of this research is to provide growers with detailed information about the influence of SA on strawberry crop growth and production.