Effects of Bio-Bor Fertilizer Applications on Fruit Yield, Antioxidant Enzyme Activity and Freeze Injury of Strawberry

Abstract

Deficiency of Boron (B) is widespread in the many parts of region of Turkey. So, the effects of boron and plant growth promoting bacteria (Bio-B) on the fruit yield, antioxidant enzyme activity and plant freeze injury of strawberry cv. Fern were investigated under field conditions between 2013 and 2014. The experimental plot was a completely randomized design with 4 replicates. Control and Bio-B were used as fertilizer agent in the experiment. Bio-B fertilizer was applied in three methods as soil, foliar and soil + foliar application methods to strawberry plants. Data through 2 years showed that the use of Bio-B significantly increased fruit yield, antioxidant enzyme activity and decreased freeze injury of strawberry leaf. Soil + foliar applications of Bio-B fertilizer increased to fruit yield compared to the control by 55.91 %. However, foliar application of Bio-B fertilizer increased to catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity compared with the control treatment 41.86 %, 48.99 %, and 26.59 %, respectively and decreased freeze injury of strawberry leaves 27.41 %. Overall, the results of this study suggest that Bio-B fertilizer application have the potential to increase the yield, antioxidant enzyme activity and decreased freeze injury of strawberry plants under field conditions.