Development and recovery of iron deficiency by iron resupply to roots or leaves of strawberry plants

Summary

Bare-root strawberry transplants were subjected to iron deficiency and then treated for nine days via four routes: continued deficiency, continued adequate supply, foliar ferrous sulphate application, or iron resupply via nutrient solution. Iron resupply to roots restored chlorophyll content within six days and enhanced leaf iron, whereas foliar application produced only slight regreening and rapidly deactivated the plant's ferric chelate reductase uptake system. The findings suggest that root-applied iron is more effective than foliar application for strawberry iron recovery, as plants have greater opportunity to regulate iron uptake when supplied directly to roots.

Regional applicability

The study used controlled hydroponics with a cultivar bred for commercial production ('Selva'); findings on iron physiology are applicable to UK protected strawberry production systems, though field-grown strawberry responses may differ. Results may inform fertigation practices in UK glasshouse or polytunnel strawberry cultivation.

Key measures

Chlorophyll content, ferric chelate reductase activity, leaf and root iron concentration, root morphology, leaf chlorosis and regreening

Outcomes reported

The study measured chlorophyll content, ferric chelate reductase activity, iron concentration in leaves and roots, and morphological changes in response to iron deficiency and resupply via roots or foliar sprays. Recovery rates and physiological responses differed significantly between the two resupply routes over a nine-day treatment period.

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