Effect of fertilization and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation on antioxidant profiles and activities in Fragaria ananassa fruit.

BACKGROUND: Root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and adjusting the type of P supplementation by means of traditional (TF) or organic (OF) fertilization and the nutrient doses are among the main methods to increase the yield and especially the quality of strawberry fruit produced in acidic soils with low P availability. In this study, the antioxidant properties of strawberry fruit were evaluated under different treatments of fertilization (TF or OF) and different doses of P supplied at planting (0, 50 or 100% of the agronomic recommendation) and in the presence or absence of AM fungus as a bioinoculant.

RESULTS: Fruits of treatments without fertilization and with TF presented higher anthocyanin concentrations; in general, higher values were obtained without AM colonization. However, spectrophotometric tests showed the highest activities and concentrations in the AM-inoculated treatments. According to our results, it is likely that phenolic compounds other than anthocyanins are present in the extracts; these other compounds could not be identified by the method used but could be detected by the Folin-Ciocalteu method.

CONCLUSION: This study provides information that allows for improvements in strawberry fruit quality by means of agronomic management, with a potential beneficial effect on the health of the consumers. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.