Salt stress induces differential responses in yield, fruit quality, vegetative growth and physiological parameters in commercial (Fragaria × ananassa) and Chilean strawberry (F. chiloensis) genotypes

Salinity reduces growth and fruit production in the commercial strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.). The geographic distribution of the Chilean strawberry (F. chiloensis) includes coastal areas suggesting it may be less sensitive to salinity. Our aim was to determine the effect of salinity on growth, physiological parameters, production and fruit quality of three genotypes of Fragaria spp. (one F. × ananassa 'Camarosa', and two Chilean strawberry genotypes of the botanical forms chiloensis and patagonica, respectively). Plants were grown in sand in a greenhouse and irrigated for 104 d with 0, 30 or 60 mM NaCl. In 'Camarosa' and forma chiloensis, salt stress reduced vegetative growth, leaf relative water content (LRWC), pigment concentrations, yield and fruit weight, while proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) were increased. However, in forma chiloensis, salinity affected fruit total soluble solids (TSS) and titratable acidity (TA). By contrast, morphological and physiological variables measured in forma patagonica genotype were not affected by salinity. The stress had no effect on fruit weight, firmness and TSS, with only TA being increased. These results suggest a higher tolerance to salt stress of the patagonica genotype.