Plant Growth and Fruit Quality Response of Strawberry is Improved After Exogenous Application of 24-Epibrassinolide

Foliar application of mineral nutrients, proteins, and plant growth regulators is frequently practiced on strawberries for better yield and extended harvest period. Here, we evaluated the influence of 24-epibrassinolide, a brassinosteroid, on strawberry plant growth, yield, and fruit quality. Healthy strawberry plants were foliar sprayed with 1, 2 and 3 mu M 24-epibrassinolide after 100, 115, and 130 days of runner transplantation. Foliar application of 24-epibrassinolide enhanced specific leaf area and root-to-shoot ratio in concentration-dependent manner. Though, root weight ratio and leaf area ratio were also positively influenced with 24-epibrassinolide applications, but plants treated with 2 mu M 24-epibrassinolide exhibited maximum response. Overall, better vegetative growth of plants exogenously treated with 3 mu M 24-epibrassinolide led to threefold increase in flowering and better fruit harvest index than control plants. Principal component analysis was further employed to delineate concentration-dependent effects of 24-epibrassinolide. Though, foliar application of 1 mu M 24-epibrassinolide was positively correlated with fruit pH and 2 mu M 24-epibrassinolide application had a promotive impact on leaf area, plant dry weight, and fruit sugars but foliar spray of 3 mu M 24-epibrassinolide was most influential in inducing plant vegetative growth (leaf area ratio, specific leaf area, root-to-shoot ratio, root weight ratio and shoot weight ratio), yield (flowers and fruits per plant and harvest index), and quality attributes (sugar-acid ratio, ascorbic acid, and organoleptic characteristics) of strawberry fruits. Conclusively, results suggest that foliar application of 3 mu M 24-epibrassinolide favours vegetative growth, enhances yield and improves quality of strawberry fruit.