Modifications of Strawberry Fruit Antioxidant Pools and Fruit Quality under NaCl Stress

Summary

This study examined how moderate salt stress affects the antioxidant composition and quality of strawberry fruit in two cultivars with differing salt sensitivity. The less salt-sensitive cultivar Korona showed enhanced antioxidant capacity under moderate salinity, with increased superoxide dismutase activity and elevated glutathione, phenols, and anthocyanins, despite reduced ascorbic acid. The more sensitive cultivar Elsanta showed less favourable antioxidant responses, with decreased anthocyanins and reduced glutathione at high salinity. The authors propose that cultivation of salt-tolerant strawberry varieties under moderate salinity may offer opportunities to optimise fruit antioxidant quality.

Regional applicability

The study geography is not specified in the abstract, limiting direct applicability claims to United Kingdom conditions. However, the findings may be relevant to United Kingdom horticultural practice if cultivars are grown in regions with soil salinity issues or if salt stress becomes increasingly relevant under climate change scenarios. Transfer of these results would require validation in UK growing conditions and with UK-cultivated strawberry varieties.

Key measures

Superoxide dismutase activity; glutathione content; phenol content; anthocyanin content; ascorbic acid concentration; fruit quality; salinity levels (40 and 80 mmol/L NaCl)

Outcomes reported

The study measured changes in antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase), antioxidant metabolites (glutathione, phenols, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid), and fruit quality in two strawberry cultivars exposed to moderate and high salinity stress. Cultivar-specific responses to NaCl treatment were documented to determine whether salt-tolerant varieties could maintain or improve fruit antioxidant quality under stress conditions.

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