Silicon Improves Strawberry Ability to Cope with Water Deficit Stress

Strawberry is one of the most important commercial fruits. This research aimed to ameliorate the negative effects of water deficit stress using silicon application on strawberry. The experiment was conducted as a factorial in a completely randomized design with three factors including cultivar (‘Selva’ and ‘Gavioita’), Na۲SiO۳ (Sodium silicate) concentrations [۰, ۳, and ۶ mM), as the source of silicon, and water deficit stress (۴۰%, ۶۰%, ۸۰%, and ۱۰۰% of field capacity (FC)], in three replications. ‘Gavioita’ cultivar showed the highest superoxide dismutase enzyme activity in leaves under sever water deficit stress (۴۰% of FC) following Na۲SiO۳ (۳ and ۶ mM concentrations) application. Application of Na۲SiO۳ at concentration of ۶ mM increased the catalase enzyme activity significantly in the leaves of ‘Gavioita’cultivar under severe water deficit stress (۴۰% of FC). The activity of peroxidase enzyme was enhanced considerably under ۸۰% of FC and lower water deficit in the fruits of both cultivars. The fruit total anthocyanin level was increased significantly by application of Na۲SiO۳ at ۳ and ۶ mM concentrations under water deficit stress (۶۰% of FC). Also, Na۲SiO۳ (at concentrations of ۳ and ۶ mM) enhanced the proline level significantly in ‘Gavioita’ cultivar compared to the control treatment under normal conditions (۱۰۰% of FC). In conclusion, the results of present study indicated that application of Na۲SiO۳ at ۶ mM concentration is useful treatment to cope with sever water deficit stress (۴۰% of FC) especially in ‘Gavioita’ cultivar of strawbery

Keywords:

Anthocyanin , Drought , proline , Silicon , strawberry