EFFECT OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF CHITOSAN, TRIACONTANOL, AND BENZYLADENINE ON THE CONCENTRATION OF SOME PHYTOHORMONES AND YIELD OF STRAWBERRY

Abstract

This study aims to assess the effect of foliar application with chitosan, triacontanol and benzyl adenine on the growth and Yield of Strawberry plants. A factorial experiment (3 × 3 × 2) was carried out in Randomized Complete Block design (RCBD) within split-plot arrangement with three replication, at the University of Baghdad from July the, 1st, 2023 to July the, 1st, 2024, The main plots of the experiment consisted of 2 levels of chitosan (0, 500 mg L⁻¹), whereas the sub-plots were 3 levels of triacontanol (0, 1 and 2 mg L⁻¹) and benzyladenine (0, 250 and 500 mg L⁻¹). Application of 500 mg L⁻¹ chitosan exerted significant improvement in all traits studied. Triacontanol at 2 mg L⁻¹ improved plant height, crown number, chlorophyll content, auxin and cytokinin levels, and yield. Benzyl adenine at 500 mg L⁻¹ increased hormone levels, Flowers number, and fruit yield.. Notably, the interaction among the three factors had a synergistic effect on most traits. These findings suggest that combined application of these substances can effectively promote growth and productivity in strawberry cultivation