Reaction of Three Strawberry Cultivars to the Salinity of Growing Substrate: Generative Parameters

The study aimed at analysing the reaction of three strawberry (FragariaananassaDuch.) cultivars to the salinity (0-control, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 g of NaCl L-1 in the irrigation water: equivalent of the following ECiw values: 0.73, 1.65, 2.66, 4.37, 5.93 and 7.81 mS cm-1). Vegetation trial was carried out at the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb during two years. Following parameters were tested: yield of fruit (g/plant), number of fruits per plant, average mass of fruits, number of floral shoots, number of fruits per floral shoot and percentage of dry matter of fruits. Sodium chloride had a significant impact on the fruit yield: yield reduction was observed in cvs. ʹElsantaʹ and ʹMarmoladaʹ at 0,5 g of NaCl L-1, while in cv. ʹMirandaʹ at 2,0 g of NaCl L-1. Average reduction of yield under the influence of salinity was the highest in cv. ʹElsantaʹ followed by cvs. ʹMarmoladaʹ and ʹMirandaʹ (reduced number of fruits and average of fruit mass). Dry matter percentage of fruits was increased in all three cultivars when nutrient solution contained 1.0 - 3.0 g NaCl L-1. However, there was a significant reduction of dry matter percentage of fruits at the highest concentration of NaCl (4.0 g NaCl L-1) in cvs. ʹElsantaʹ and ʹMarmoladaʹ, but not in cv. ʹMirandaʹ. Drymatter percentage of fruits was significantly higher in cv. ʹMirandaʹ then in cvs. ʹElsantaʹ and ʹMarmoladaʹ.