Exogenous glutathione enhances antioxidant defense, physiological performance and fruit quality of strawberry under deficit fertigation

Summary

This factorial completely randomized design study investigated the protective effects of exogenous L-glutathione (0, 500, 1000 µM) on strawberry (cv. Sabrina) subjected to deficit fertigation (160 vs 200 mL plant⁻¹). Deficit fertigation induced oxidative stress and reduced productivity, whilst GSH application significantly enhanced antioxidant defence systems, increased key bioactive compounds including anthocyanins and ascorbic acid, and reduced oxidative damage markers. Optimal GSH concentration and fertigation regime varied by trait: 500 µM GSH under full fertigation maximized yield and reduced MDA, whilst 1000 µM under deficit fertigation maximized anthocyanin accumulation.

Regional applicability

The study was conducted under controlled greenhouse conditions using a single cultivar (Sabrina); transferability to United Kingdom outdoor or polytunnel strawberry production would depend on validation across UK-relevant cultivars and environmental conditions. The findings may be relevant to protected cultivation systems common in UK horticulture, though commercial feasibility and cost-benefit analysis of GSH application would require further evaluation.

Key measures

Antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, APX, POD); malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation; polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity; total phenolic content (TP); total flavonoid (TF); FRAP values; DPPH scavenging activity; total anthocyanin content (TAC); ascorbic acid (AsA); yield and fruit quality attributes

Outcomes reported

The study measured physiological, biochemical, and fruit quality responses of strawberry plants to exogenous glutathione (GSH) application under deficit and full fertigation regimes. Key outcomes included antioxidant enzyme activities, oxidative stress markers (MDA), bioactive compounds (anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, DPPH scavenging activity), and yield-related attributes.

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