Efficiency of Folic Acid in Improving Yield and Fruit Quality of Strawberry

Abstract

In this research the effect of application of different levels of folic acid and time on some quality and agronomic characteristics of strawberry (cultivar Paros) was investigated. The plants were treated by folic acid with concentrations of 0, 20 and 40 mM at two stages (30 days after planting and first blooming) as a factorial experiment using a randomized complete block design with four replications in the greenhouse conditions. Results showed that fruits of treated plants by folic acid, as compared to the control treatment improved quality and agronomic characteristics. Application of folic acid increased yield, weight of primary and secondary fruits and number of their achenes, total soluble solid, inducing sugar, titratable acidity, anthocyanin, phenol, and vitamin C. The most effective treatment with the best spraying time was 40 mM folic acid at 30 days after planting. The present study is the first evidence that folic acid enhances fruit quality and yield of strawberry.<br />