Salicylic acid can enhance quality characteristics, growth and productivity of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa CV Camarosa) under drought stress condition

Abiotic stress from drought inhibits plant growth and decreases yields. Salicylic acid (SA) is classified as a compound that effectively reduces crop susceptibility and environmental stress by mitigating the harmful effects of many stressors. Numerous levels of SA protect several plant species from environmental stresses by initiating different processes involved in the stress tolerance mechanism. Fruit productivity and quality under dry stress conditions were examined by evaluating the effects of the application mode and various concentrations of SA. The split factorial experiment based on a completely randomized block design with four replicates in the Jiroft University Research Greenhouse was carried out. In this study, drought stress is the main factor at three levels (control, moderate and severe stress). Factorial treatment included interaction at two levels of (SA application method as foliar spray and soil drench) and (SA concentration include control, 1 and 1.5 mM SA). The results showed that relative water content (RWC), electrolyte leakage, titratable acidity (TA), average fruit weight, fruit yield, and the number of fruits per plant were affected by the interaction of drought stress, SA concentration and consumption method. Strawberry fruit production per plant was highest with 315.20 g from non-stress treatment with 1.5 mMof SA. Under severe drought stress, the maximum fruit production per plant of 201.80 g with 1.5 mM of SA was obtained, which increased the strawberry fruit productivity with an ascending concentration of SA. In strawberry plants, drought stress manifests in elevated levels of antioxidant enzyme activities, including catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) in the leaves. Interestingly, moderate and high drought stress led to improvements in certain fruit quality indices such as vitamin C content, compared to those not subjected to stress. Another significant finding was that the application of SA increased the activities of CAT and POD enzymes, while also elevating the concentrations of chlorophyll and proline considerably. Finally, it is recommended to use 1.5 mM of SA as a foliar spray under drought stress conditions on greenhouse strawberries.