Salinity Stress in Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.): Biological Intervention Strategies and Breeding Approaches for Salt-Tolerant Cultivars

Abstract

Soil salinity is a major constraint to strawberry cultivation, adversely affecting plant growth, yield, and fruit quality. Salinity stress triggers complex physiological and biochemical responses, including osmotic adjustment, antioxidant defense, ion homeostasis, and shifts in metabolite accumulation, ultimately reducing crop productivity and fruit quality. This review synthesizes current knowledge on strawberry responses to salinity, with emphasis on physiological mechanisms, genotypic variation in tolerance, and emerging biologically based approaches, such as biostimulants, small signaling molecules, and beneficial microorganisms, that alleviate salinity stress and enhance plant resilience. In parallel, recent advances in the identification of stress-responsive genes and regulatory pathways are discussed in the context of their relevance for breeding salt-resilient cultivars. This review also identifies critical gaps in current knowledge that, despite significant progress, hinder the translation of mechanistic insights into stable yield and fruit quality under field conditions. By integrating physiological knowledge with advances in biological and breeding-based approaches, together with long-term field validation, this review provides a comprehensive framework for improving strawberry performance under saline conditions and guiding future cultivation and genetic improvement strategies.