Pre-harvest methyl jasmonate application improves the yield and quality of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) under semi-arid ecosystem of Bundhelkhand, India
摘要
An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of pre-harvest methyl-jasmonate (MeJA) spray on yield and quality of strawberry under semi-arid condition of Bundhelkhand, India. MeJA was sprayed on strawberry plants at 2.5—10 μM concentration during 2023 and 2024 in four different growth phases (45, 45 + 60, 45 + 75 and 45 + 90 days after planting). Reduced vegetative growth was observed in MeJA treated plants as compared to control. However, specific leaf weight, leaf relative water content, and total chlorophyll content were enhanced significantly under 5.0 μM MeJA application at 45 + 75 DAP (29.37 mg cm−2, 79.97% and 5.15 mg g−1, respectively). Early flowering with prolonged flowering duration and maximum number of flowers per plant were also recorded under the same treatment combination. Number of fruit per plant (23.92), fruit weight (21.71 g) and yield (507.56 g plant⁻1) were also recorded maximum in 5.0 μM MeJA spray at 45 + 75 DAP. Total soluble solids, sugars, ascorbic acid and bioactive compounds were also improved significantly under the same treatment with higher catalase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity. Hence, two pre-harvest spray of 5.0 μM methyl-jasmonate at 45 and 75 days after planting can be recommended for enhancing commercial strawberry production with improved fruit quality under semi-arid condition.