Effect of Essential Oils on Strawberry Growth and Fruit Quality | ||||
| Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Sciences | ||||
| Article 6, Volume 50, Issue 2, June 2024 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Research Paper | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/jsas.2024.282598.1459 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
Awad Shala  1; Rania Abd El Hameed2; Tahany Abd-ELbary3
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| 15- Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Department, Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza 12619, Egypt | ||||
| 2Vegetables production Under Modified Environment Research Department, Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12619, Egypt | ||||
| 3Potato and Vegetatively Propagated Vegetables Department, Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12619, Egypt | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Essential oils have been considered as an efficient approach and environmentally safe as natural plant stimulants. The current research evaluated the effect of foliar spray of essential oils of French lavender and citronella grass and their mixture (0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 ml/l) on strawberry plants under greenhouse conditions during the two consecutive seasons of 2022 and 2023. Chromatographic analysis of essential oil constituents identified 1,8-cineole (43.95%) and linalool (26.27%) were dominant in lavender essential oil while citronellal (27.64%) and geraniol (24.51%) were the most abundant compounds in citronella grass essential oil. Foliar application of essential oils significantly increased plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit firmness, early yield, total yield and fruit quality, the highest content of phenolics, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid and total soluble solids especially after application of French lavender essential oil at high concentration as compared to the control. This study suggests the application of French lavender essential oil at 7.5 ml/l as a promising eco-friendly approach to improve strawberry plant growth and productivity towards a better fruit quality. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| oils; strawberry; citronella; anthocyanins; lavender; ascorbic; quality | ||||
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