Effect of chitosan application on growth and yield attributes of strawberry (Fragaria #215; ananassa Duch.) under naturally ventilated polyhouse

Abstract

The study was carried out to investigate the effect of foliar application of chitosan with 1, 2 and 3 g l-1 concentrations applied at different time (once, twice and three times) on vegetative growth and yield attributing traits of strawberry (var. winter dawn) during 2019-20. Results revealed that all tested foliar concentration of chitosan increased vegetative growth characteristics viz., (plant height 23-28 cm, number of trifoliate leaves/ plants 22-28, leaf area 92-105.65 cm2 and plant dry weight 23-33 g) and yield attributes (berry length 3.41-3.96 cm, berry diameter 2.82-3.15 cm, berry weight 16.93-18.55 g and number of berries/ plant16.6-19.74) compared to water spray. Among the chitosan treatment, application of chitosan at 3 g l-1 on 45, 90 and 135 days interval recorded maximum yield (366 g plant-1) followed by chitosan at 3 g l-1 on 45 and 90 (346 g plant g plant-1) and chitosan at 2 g l-1 on 45 and 90 days (343 g plant-1) interval due to higher growth and yield attributing traits. There was no significant effect for the tested treatments on runner production.