EFFECTS OF SOME MICROBIAL PLANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATORS ON VEGETATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND FRUIT QUALITY OF STRAWBERRY UNDER GREENHOUSE CONDITIONS

Abstract

Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.), which is widely grown all over the world, can be consumed as fresh and processed and is suitable for family business, is increasing its commercial importance and production. This study was carried out in order to determine the effects of some microbial plant growth regulators on vegetative growth and fruit quality of strawberry plants under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted in the unheated glass greenhouse in 5 l pots in the Research and Application Area of Faculty of Agriculture of Akdeniz University between 2018-2019. In the study, ‘Albion’ which is a neutral day type used as the plant material, and ‘SimBacil’, ‘SimDerma’, ‘OrgaStar’ which are the commercial preparate, were used as plant growth and development regulator. In order to determine the effects of the applications on the vegetative development of plants, stem diameter, plant height and number of leaves were measured at weekly intervals throughout the experiment. In addition, fruit quality analyses (fruit weight, fruit diameter, TSS, pH, TAA values) were performed four times during the season. At the end of the study, the mean values of the measurements were evaluated statistically. When the results of the applications were compared with the control plots, significant differences were found statistically. It was concluded that microbial plant growth regulator applications can be recommended in strawberry cultivation.