Interactive effects of varieties, mulches, and biostimulants on fruit yield and quality attributes of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) 

Abstract

This research was carried out in order to assess the interactive effects of cultivars, mulches, and biostimulants on fruit yield and quality attributes of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) at the fruit research farm, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda, Punjab, during winters 2024–25 and 2025–26. This experiment was conducted by employing a split-split plot design where there were two main treatments that included varieties (V1-Winter Dawn and V2-Camarosa), two sub-treatments that consisted of mulching methods (M1–Paddy Straw and M2–Black Polythene), and seven sub-sub-treatments that comprised biostimulants (T1–Humic acid 0.1%, T2–Humic acid 0.2%, T3–Salicylic acid 0.5 mM, T4–Salicylic acid 1.0 mM, T5–Salicylic acid 1.5 mM, T6–Salicylic acid 2.0 mM, and T7-Control). Among main treatments, Camarosa variety significantly improved physical fruit quality and yield, as evidenced by greater fruit length (3.06 cm), breadth (2.49 cm), number of fruits (16.55/plants), total chlorophyll content (2.01 mg/g FW), weight (14.54 g), yield (246.81 g/plant) and yield per hectare (27.42 t/ha). In contrast, variety Winter Dawn was recorded superior biochemical quality attributes in pooled analysis of two-year data, including higher total soluble solids (9.07 0Brix), TSS/acid ratio (10.17), total sugar (9.25%), reducing sugar (5.36%), and anthocyanin content (29.17 mg/100g). M2-black polythene mulch and T2-Humic acid 0.2% consistently outperformed other treatments in all measured parameters, including physical fruit quality, yield components, and biochemical quality attributes. Overall, the research showed that the incorporation of suitable practices of mulching and biostimulants contributed significantly to the improvement of yield and physio-chemical qualities of strawberries, depending on the variety used in the research. Such observations give essential information for sustainable farming strategies for improving the yield and quality of strawberry fruits.