Vegetative and Reproductive Growth of Strawberry Plants cv. ‘Pajaro’ Affected by Salicylic Acid and Nickel

Abstract

The present research was carried out under hydroponic culture to evaluate the interaction between salicylic acid (SA), nickel (Ni) on vegetative and reproductive growth of strawberry plants as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design. Well-rooted daughter plants of Pajaro cultivar, were potted in 3 L plastic pots and were sprayed with SA at concentrations of 0, 1, 2 and 3 mM and NiSO4 at 0, 150 and 300 mg.L-1, after establishment. Results indicated that SA at 2 mM increased root and shoot fresh weight, number of inflorescences and fruits, fruit nitrogen concentration and yield. The effect of Ni was promoting too, as 150 mg.L-1 of Ni led to significant increments of fruit number, inflorescences, leaf area per plant and yield. However, the best results were found when SA was applied accompanied by Ni.