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Greenhouse studies were conducted from 2020 to 2021 to evaluate the effect of simulated drift rates of 2,4-D and dicamba on strawberry growth, fruit development, and fruit quality in Raleigh, NC. Treatments included 2,4-D choline and dicamba DGA plus Vapor Grip at 1/2×, 1/20×, and 1/200× of the 1× field rate of 1.09 and 0.8 kg ae ha–1, respectively. Treatments were applied to strawberry at three reproductive stages, including bud, flower, and fruit. Averaged across both herbicides, strawberry canopy size was reduced by the 1/2× rate 18, 25, 30, and 36% at 3, 6, 9, and 11 wk after treatment (WAT). The 1/2× rate of both herbicides caused greater injury to strawberry than the 1/20× or 1/200×, with maximum stunting from 2,4-D and dicamba of 54% and 36%, respectively. Fruit pH and total soluble solid content (SSC) increased due to the 1/2× rate of dicamba compared to the 1/20× and 1/200× rates and the nontreated. Treated fruit (across all herbicides) were larger than fruit developing following herbicide application to flowers or buds but were similar to nontreated fruit. Nomenclature: 2,4-D; dicamba; strawberry, Fragaria × ananassa (Duch.) ‘Albion’

Soil salinization due to climate change and intensive use of water and soil is increasing exponentially. Cucurbitaceae species are cultivated worldwide and the identification of salinity tolerant genotypes to be used as rootstock or scion for securing yield stability in salt affected agricultural areas is a research priority. In the present greenhouse study, we assessed the response to salinity (0 mM a non-salt control and 150 mM NaCl dissolved in the nutrient solution) in the seedlings of 30 genotypes of cucurbits grown in a floating hydroponic system. The species tested included 16 genotypes of Cucumis melo L. (CM1-16), 6 Citrullus vulgaris Schrad. (CV1-6), 2 interspecific hybrids of Cucurbita maxima Duch. × Cucurbita moschata Duch. (CMM-R1 and 2), 4 bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. (LS1-4)), 1 Cucurbita moschata Duch. (CMO51-17), and 1 luffa (Luffa cylindrica Mill. (LC1)) species. Results highlighted different morphological and physiological traits between the species and genotypes and a different response to salt stress. We identified C. maxima × C.moscata interspecific hybrid CMM-R2, melon genotypes CM6, CM7, CM10, and CM16 together with watermelon genotypes CV2 and CV6 and bottle gourd LS4 as salt tolerant genotypes and possible candidates as salt resistant rootstock to be introduced in grafting programs.

Compared with other members of the family Rosaceae, the chloroplast genomes of Fragaria species exhibit low variation, and this situation has limited phylogenetic analyses; thus, complete chloroplast genome sequencing of Fragaria species is needed. In this study, we sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of F . ×  ananassa ‘Benihoppe’ using the Illumina HiSeq 2500-PE150 platform and then performed a combination of de novo assembly and reference-guided mapping of contigs to generate complete chloroplast genome sequences. The chloroplast genome exhibits a typical quadripartite structure with a pair of inverted repeats (IRs, 25,936 bp) separated by large (LSC, 85,531 bp) and small (SSC, 18,146 bp) single-copy (SC) regions. The length of the F . ×  ananassa ‘Benihoppe’ chloroplast genome is 155,549 bp, representing the smallest Fragaria chloroplast genome observed to date. The genome encodes 112 unique genes, comprising 78 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes and four rRNA genes. Comparative analysis of the overall nucleotide sequence identity among ten complete chloroplast genomes confirmed that for both coding and non-coding regions in Rosaceae, SC regions exhibit higher sequence variation than IRs. The Ka/Ks ratio of most genes was less than 1, suggesting that most genes are under purifying selection. Moreover, the mVISTA results also showed a high degree of conservation in genome structure, gene order and gene content in Fragaria , particularly among three octoploid strawberries which were F . ×  ananassa ‘Benihoppe’, F . chiloensis (GP33) and F . virginiana (O477). However, when the sequences of the coding and non-coding regions of F . ×  ananassa ‘Benihoppe’ were compared in detail with those of F . chiloensis (GP33) and F . virginiana (O477), a number of SNPs and InDels were revealed by MEGA 7. Six non-coding regions ( trnK - matK , trnS - trnG , atpF - atpH , trnC - petN , trnT - psbD and trnP - psaJ ) with a percentage of variable sites greater than 1% and no less than five parsimony-informative sites were identified and may be useful for phylogenetic analysis of the genus Fragaria .

Tow field and storage experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of foliar application of moringa leaf extract, calcium, and potassium silicate on the growth, yield, and quality characteristics of strawberry fruits. The field experiment included 27 treatments: Foliar application of moringa leaf extract at the concentrations of 0, 5, and 10% which were symbolized as M0, M1, and M2 respectively, calcium at the concentrations of 0, 1, and 2 g. L-1, which were symbolized as Ca0, Ca1, and Ca2 respectively, and potassium silicate at the concentrations of 0, 1.25, and 2.50 ml. L-1 which were symbolized as S0, S1, and S2 respectively, with three replicates. The storage experiment was carried out according to the same design that was applied in the first experiment, at a temperature of 0-2 ºC. The results revealed that the M2 treatment significantly increased Plant height, leaf number, crown diameter, flowering cluster number, plant yield, Fruit T.S.S, Vitamin C, as well as maintaining the T.S.S and Vitamin C after storage, and reduced the fruits distortion. The treatment of Ca1 recorded a significant increment in the growth and yield parameters and reduced fruit distortion, Also the treatment of S2 recorded significant values of the above-mentioned parameters, Moreover, the interactions of M2Ca1, M2S2, and Ca1S2 and the triple interaction of M2Ca1S2 recorded the highest values of the studied parameters.

Despite the advancement of tissue culture in strawberry plant propagation, the degree of elite for field cultivation depends on forcing the plant to produce runners. The strawberry flower habit [everbearing (EB), seasonal berry (SB), short-day (SD), long-day (LD), and day-neutral (DN)] defines the method of encouraging the plant to generate runners, since the formation of runners is mostly influenced by genetic factors before being influenced by environmental factors. Stolon production, which occurs as a result of vying for resources under certain environmental circumstances, is the reverse of blossoming. Therefore, any stimulus that encourages stolon formation and vegetative growth limits the development of flower buds, which is necessary for elite propagation. Long photoperiod, temperature, chilling hour, or cold storage, and plant growth regulators (PGR) are cited as these variables. Temperature has a significant impact on runner development, although the long daily photoperiod (LD) remains the most crucial component in runner induction. However, when LD interacts with other factors like temperature, cold storage, and gibberellins, its efficiency is increased. Thus, based on the cultivars and the seasonal climate of the geographical location, the best approach for strawberry propagation is identified by optimising the planting date for propagation or adjusting the propagation circumstances.

Strawberry production faces major challenges under adverse climatic conditions, particularly freezing temperatures. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of high (HT) and low (LT) tunnels in protecting strawberry cultivars from low-temperature stress. Moreover, the genetic diversity among the three cultivars using molecular markers was assessed. Results showed that total fruit yield was higher under HT than under LT for all three tested cultivars. This study evaluated the effectiveness of both RAPD and DAMD assays in differentiating among tested strawberry cultivars. Although RAPD primers generated a greater number of amplified fragments, the DAMD technique exhibited higher polymorphism and more unique markers. On the other hand, the maximum genetic linkage was recorded between ‘Fortuna’ and ‘Florida’, and the minimum distance was scored between ‘Festival’ and ‘Fortuna’, as well as ‘Festival’ and ‘Florida’ based on both markers. In conclusion, the results revealed that the fruit yields of three cultivars were higher under HT compared with LT. Furthermore, RAPD and DAMD markers were effective in distinguishing among three strawberry cultivars with different degrees of genetic linkage. These techniques will provide strong certification and characterization of strawberry cultivars, which will support future breeding efforts.

A field and storage experiments were carried out in order to evaluate the effect of the foliar application of Moringa leaves extract, calcium, and potassium silicate on the growth, yield, and quality characteristics of strawberry fruits. The field experiment with three replicates was included 27 treatments consisted of the foliar application of Moringa leaf extract at the concentrations of 0, 5, and 10% which were symbolized as M0, M1, and M2 respectively, calcium at the concentrations of 0, 1, and 2 g. L-1, which were symbolized as Ca0, Ca1, and Ca2 respectively, and potassium silicate at the concentrations of 0, 1.25, and 2.50 ml. L-1 that symbolized as S0, S1, and S2 respectively. The storage experiment was carried out according to the same design that applied in the first experiment, at a temperature of 0-2ºC. The results revealed that the M2 treatment was significantly increased the leaves content of chlorophyll, Leaves area, shoots dry weight, flowers number, the fruit set percent and number, leaves and fruits content of calcium, fruits firmness, and it also reduced the damage percent and the weight loss. While the treatment of Ca1 recorded the most significant values of growth and yield indicators, and the lowest damage percent  and weight loss. Also, the Ca2 treatment recorded the highest leaves and fruits content of calcium, and firmness. S2 also recorded the highest values in the above indicators. The interaction treatments revealed significant values in the above-mentioned indicators, as the interactions of M2Ca1, M2S2, and Ca1S2 and the triple interaction of M2Ca1S2 were recorded the highest values compared to the control treatments.

Efficient nutrient management is crucial for profitable strawberry production. This study investigated the practical consequences of organic and inorganic fertilization strategies, assessing their influence on yield, fruit quality, nutrient uptake and efficiency and economic viability for the production of strawberry. Field experiments were conducted at the Horticulture Research Centre, BARI, Gazipur, Bangladesh, from 2019 to 20 to 2020–2021. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with eight treatments replicated three times. The treatments included the following: T 1 : control; T 2 : recommended dose of inorganic N-P-K-S-Zn-B at 140-40-110-20-3–2 kg ha −1 ; T 3 : 3 t ha −1 vermicompost (VC) + 125% of NPKSZnB; T 4 : 3 t ha −1 poultry manure (PM) + 125% of NPKSZnB; T 5 : 3 t ha −1 cowdung (CD) + 125% of NPKSZnB; T 6 : 3 t ha −1 VC + 75% of NPKSZnB; T 7 : 3 t ha −1 PM + 75% of NPKSZnB; and T 8 : 3 t ha −1 CD + 75% of NPKSZnB. Treatment T 4 resulted in the highest strawberry yield (10.9 t ha -1 ) because of the greater number of fruits per plant (17.7), greater fruit size (length of 4.63 cm and diameter of 3.15 cm) and greater number of fruits (17.5 g). The highest amount of vitamin C (63.2 mg/100 g) and protein (22.0%) was also found in the T 4 treatment. T 4 maximized nutrient uptake and acquisition. While nutrient uptake improved under integrated treatments, the apparent recovery efficiencies of N, P, K, S, Zn, and B varied considerably across treatments, with no consistent pattern observed. T 4 increased economic returns (US$ 7611) and improved soil health. A positive correlation was observed between growth, productivity and nutrient uptake. The results suggest that the combined application of 3 t ha -1 poultry manure with 125% of the recommended amount of NPKSZnB fertilizer can increase strawberry productivity and quality. This approach has also promoted sustainable soil health and environmental benefits.

Although freezing is considered one of the easiest ways to preserve the quality of food, it is harmful to strawberries. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the conservation of frozen strawberries using gelatin as a coating and of the probiotic yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii. Strawberries were selected, sanitized and subjected to the following treatments: Treatment 1 - control 1 (strawberries stored at -18ºC); Treatment 2 - control 2 (strawberries stored at -80ºC); Treatment 3 - strawberries added with citric acid, calcium chloride and S. boulardii stored at -18ºC; Treatment 4 - strawberries with gelatin, citric acid, calcium chloride, glycerol and S. boulardii stored at -18ºC. Drip loss, soluble solids, titratable acidity, color, firmness, ascorbic acid, total phenolic compounds, monomeric anthocyanins, antioxidant activity, polyphenoloxidase activity and viability of S. boulardii were analysed. The gelatin coating added with citric acid and calcium chloride, in combination with freezing at -18ºC, reduced the drip loss, the metabolic reactions and exerted a protective effect on bioactive compounds, making it possible to use them instead of deep-freezing, mainly for agribusinesses that do not have the equipment. The use of gelatin coating on strawberries minimized the effects of freezing and promoted the protection of S. boulardii, obtaining in up to 60 days of storage the minimum viable concentration of the microorganism to exercise its functional property. On the other hand, in the absence of gelatin, S. boulardii had a negative influence on the physical-chemical parameters, in addition to showing less viability. Thus, the study demonstrated that the coating composed of gelatin, citric acid and calcium chloride can represent an interesting alternative for application on frozen strawberries enriched with S. boulardii.

Purpose: This study seeks to assess the cultivation and production of strawberries (cv. San Andreas) under substrate conditions, utilizing treated wastewater as an alternative water source and supplemented with mineral fertilizers.Method: Conducted in greenhouse conditions, the experiments comprised three treatment groups: (PWF) potable water + mineral fertilizers, (TWF) treated wastewater + mineral fertilizers, and (TW) treated wastewater only. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that using treated wastewater alone (TW) resulted in low productivity and subpar fruit quality. In contrast, the TWF solution demonstrated robust fruit productivity and quality, comparable to the conventional cultivation system using potable water and mineral fertilizers (PWF). Escherichia coli analysis showed no contamination in the fruit samples, confirming the safety of this system employing substrate cultivation instead of conventional soil cultivation. Additionally, the use of treated wastewater led to a 13.1% reduction in the requirement for mineral fertilizers and conserved approximately 4,500 L of potable water for irrigation.Conclusion: These findings underscore the viability of employing treated domestic wastewater for strawberry cultivation, ensuring safe fruit production and upholding high-quality standards.