Effect of Spraying with Some Natural and Chemical Compounds on Growth and Fruiting of 'Florida' Strawberry Cultivar

The effects of boron, salicylic acid and chitosan on growth, yield components and fruit quality of a strawberry variety (Florida) were examined in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. A randomized complete block design was used.The results showed that the application of boron, salicylic acid and chitosan increased plant height, number of leaves/plants, number of extensions, leaf area, total chlorophyll, number of fruits per plant and yield per plant compared to water spraying (control) increased significantly.The results also showed that the physical properties of the fruits, i.e., Fruit weight, fruit height, fruit diameter and fruit hardness increased significantly when using boron, salicylic acid or chitosan compared to sprayed water (control).The results also showed that boron, salicylic acid and chitosan spraying significantly improved the chemical composition of the fruits by increasing the percentage of total soluble solids, sugar content, vitamin C content and decreasing acidity compared to the control treatment.It has been suggested that foliar application of chitosan or boron can significantly improve plant growth, yield and fruit quality.