Biostimulant usage for preserving strawberries to climate damages

Abstract

Climate changes affect horticultural production through the occurrence of late spring frosts. Therefore plant management is gaining more importance with the aim of improving plant condition. The research deals with the biostimulator containing amino-acids of animal origin (porcine blood) which can be obtained by chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of an organic matrix. During vegetation period different cultivars of strawberries were included in the experiment: Asia, Alba and Clery. The effects of biostimulator on resistance to frost, yields and pomological characteristics were studied at three treatments (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g/plant, and control 0 g/plant). The results showed that all investigated cultivars had a positive response to biostimulant application regarding the frost resistance. Natural frost resistance was the strongest for cv. Clery. Significantly lowest percentage of damage was recorded for cv. Alba at 1.5 g and cvs Clery and Alba at 0.5 g. In the case of late spring frosts and other climatic hazards for growing outdoors cvs Clery and Alba are recommended. All cultivars recorded decreased yields. The difference in yields between cultivars was a consequence of frost damages.