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Joint Action of Trichoderma atroviride and a Vegetal Derived-Protein Hydrolysate Improves Performances of Woodland Strawberry in Italy

Authors :
Lorena Vultaggio
Enrica Allevato
Beppe Benedetto Consentino
Pietro Bellitto
Simona Napoli
Claudio Cannata
Georgia Ntatsi
Sonya Vasto
Sara Baldassano
Salvatore La Bella
Claudio Leto
Leo Sabatino
Source :
Horticulturae, Vol 10, Iss 5, p 459 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

Woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) is an underutilized plant species that could benefit from the use of biostimulants to improve crop productivity and fruit quality. The scope of the present study was to appraise the influence of two biostimulants (Trichoderma atroviride and plant protein hydrolysate)—used either alone or combined—on the plant performance and economic profitability of two woodland strawberry genotypes (‘Alpine’ and ‘Regina delle Valli’). Overall, data showed that ‘Alpine’ had the highest productive performances, whereas ‘Regina delle Valli’ revealed the highest fruit qualitative traits. T. atroviride inoculation and V-PH application significantly boosted plant marketable yield (+20.5% for T. atroviride and +12.9% for V-PH), total sugars (+1.9% for Trichoderma and +1.4% for V-PH) and anthocyanins (+14.1% for T. atroviride and +9.8% for V-PH) compared to non-treated plants. Plants supplied with both biostimulants had a higher marketable yield (+34.8%), mean fruit weight (+6.0%), fruit dry matter (+13.8%), total sugars (+3.5%), ascorbic acid (+12.7%), flavonoid (+26.3%) and anthocyanins (+29.9%) compared to non-treated plants. Furthermore, our study revealed that the highest fruit polyphenol concentration was recorded in both genotypes treated with the combination of biostimulants and in ‘Regina delle Valli’ sprayed with V-PH, whereas the highest antioxidant activity was found in ‘Regina delle Valli’ fruit when plants were supplied with both biostimulants. Our study pointed out that the application of microbial and non-microbial biostimulants, especially in combination, might be a useful strategy for improving the performances of underutilized species and, therefore, encouraging their cultivation, valorization and economic profitability (+6208.3 EUR /ha when plants were exposed to both biostimulants).

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
23117524
Volume :
10
Issue :
5
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Horticulturae
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.455cb3f810e44c2dbad3eba10d7bb14c
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10050459