Influence of Gibberellic Acid and Mulch Materials on Yield and Biochemical Attributes of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) cv. Festival

One of the most important factors in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) cv. Festival production for achieving higher yields is the availability of strawberries with better quality. The experiment was carried out during the period from November 2020 to March 2021 to find out the responses of gibberellic acid (GA3) and mulch materials on biochemical and quality attributes related to strawberry yield characteristics. The experiment consisted of two treatments including different mulch materials: black polythene, white polythene, sawdust, and control (no mulch); and GA3 (0 and 200 mg/L) were studied. Various quality parameters, namely total soluble solids (TSS), pH, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, total sugar, phenolic, and anthocyanin content of the strawberries were determined. The results observed in the GA3-treated plants showed more significant results than the plants not treated with GA3. Among the mulch materials, sawdust performed better than the other mulch materials in terms of yield, biochemical, and quality attributes. The highest fruit set percentage (89) and fruit yield (18.70 t/ha) were obtained from the GA3 and sawdust mulch treatments. GA3 and sawdust mulch performed best in terms of quality parameters including TSS, pH, ascorbic acid, total sugar, phenolic, and anthocyanin content. Accordingly, sawdust and GA3 are more responsive to strawberry plant quality parameters. These findings provide practical insights for sustainable strawberry cultivation practices, contributing to increased fruit availability and improved nutritional value for consumers