Evaluation of Foliar Organic Fertilizer, Biofertilizer and Biological Fungicide on the Antioxidant Compounds and Postharvest Quality Attributes of Strawberry Fruit

In this study, the effect of organic fertilizer (EBG Care), biofertilizer (Ecoset), biological fungicide (Subtilex foliar) and chemical fungicide (Sanga WG) treatments on the antioxidant compounds, quality parameters and postharvest life of strawberry fruit (Fragaria x ananassa Duch cv. 'Festival') were investigated. The strawberry plants were sprayed with these products during flowering stage 22 days before harvest. All fruit were harvested at red maturity stage and stored for 20 days at 0 degrees C temperature and 90-95% relative humidity. The organic fertilizer treatment showed the highest L*, C*, h degrees values, total flavonoid, anthocyanin, oxalic acid contents and antioxidant activity. Biofertilizer determined maximum ferulic acid while biological fungicide had the highest total soluble solids content compared to the chemical fungicide and control treatments. The chemical fungicide treatment exhibited the highest amount of citric acid with control showing maximum total phenolic, malic acid, gallic acid and quercetin content. The findings obtained in this experiment concluded that pre-harvest application of organic fertilizer successfully maintained the maximal fruit quality and postharvest life of Festival cv. of strawberry for 20 days of cold storage among the treatments applied.