P. Domínguez

Effects of harvest time on functional compounds and fruit antioxidant capacity in ten strawberry cultivars

BACKGROUND: Huelva (Spain) is the main region for strawberry production in Europe. Most fruit production is exported for fresh consumption to European countries, where consumers demand high fruit quality and appreciate its healthy properties. Strawberry intake is a valuable source of antioxidants compounds with important health benefits. The higher the antioxidant capacity of a cultivar, the better the enhancement of human health. OBJECTIVE: The comparative knowledge of fruit composition on antioxidant compounds and its variation along the cropping season, in ten strawberry cultivars cropped at Huelva. METHODS: Fruit yield and citric acid, ascorbic acid, total phenolics, anthocyanins content as well as antioxidant capacity of fruits were evaluated in ten strawberry cultivars at three harvesting times during the 2014 field campaign. RESULTS:Yield and fruit parameters analyzed were strongly influenced by the genotype and by the time of harvesting. Strawberry fruit quality and antioxidant properties were greater when harvested from midto lateseason and were not associated with higher yields. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy properties of strawberry fruits depend on cultivar and harvest time. Knowledge of the nutritional properties of these strawberry cultivars might translate into benefits to growers and enhancement of health for consumers.

Comparison of different chemical and non-chemical alternatives to Methyl Bromide for strawberry in Huelva (Spain)

“Spain’s Methyl Bromide (MB) Alternatives Project” has been developing/demonstrating alternative fumigants for methyl bromide on strawberry in Huelva since 1997. Here, we describe our research carried out between 2008 and 2010. In all the trials ‘Camarosa’ was grown under high plastic tunnels between October and the end of May every year. Field trials with the same complete randomized block design and 10–12 treatments were performed annually in two locations of Huelva (“Occifresa”-Moguer and “Cumbres Malvinas”-Palos de la Frontera.). In 2007/08 and 2008/09 the following ten treatments were applied: untreated control; MB + chloropicrin (50 : 50 w/w); sodium azide; dazomet + 1,3D(dichloropropene); 1,3D + chloropicrin (61 : 35 w/w); chloropicrin alone; DMDS (dimethyl disulphide) + chloropicrin; methyl iodide + chloropicrin (50 : 50 w/w); acrolein; and furfural. In 2009/10, non-chemical treatments (biosolarization) were included; in comparison with previous year, four additional treatments were applied: biosolarization with fresh poultry manure (25,000 kg/ha), biosolarization with Brassica pellets (2,000 kg/ha), sodium tethathiocarbamate and metam sodium shank-applied with Rotary Spader implement. Black root rot complex (Fusarium spp., Cylindrocarpon spp., Rhizoctonia spp., and Pythium spp.) and nematodes Meloidogyne hapla and Pratylenchus penetrans were the main phytosanitary problems related to the soil, and Macrophomina phaseolina was detected occasionally in the first two seasons. However, plant survival, fruit size and yields were optimal in both locations. In 2009/10 at “Occifresa”-Moguer a higher percentage of dead plants was evidenced, and at an earlier stage than the previous growing seasons, mainly caused by Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum. DMDS + chloropicrin, 1,3D + chloropicrin and chloropicrin alone were as effective as MB : chloropicrin. Biosolarization with fresh chicken manure (25,000 kg/ha) showed higher production than the untreated control.

Strawberry Production in Mild Climates of the World: A Review of Current Cultivar Use

The supply of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) cultivars in the world can be restricted by several factors, such as environmental adaptation (mainly latitude), type of bearing (short-day and day-neutral cultivars), and industry strategies, among others. This review selected the area between the 42°north and south parallels as a production area of mild climates with somewhat similar conditions. A compilation was done about the current situation of the strawberry industry focusing on cultivar utilization in the U.S. (California and Florida), Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, China, Japan, and Australia. These countries represent over 85% of the world production. The day-neutral cultivar supply currently is very limited in comparison with short-day utilization. There is significant evidence of a successful utilization of cultivars, such as ‘Albion’, ‘Florida Festival’, ‘Florida Fortuna’, ‘Splendor’, and ‘Sabrosa’. Japanese cultivars have predominance in China and Japan.

Fumigant Use for Strawberry Production in Europe: The Current Landscape and Solutions

ABSTRACT The impact of methyl bromide (MB) phase-out on important fruit and nursery industries in the EU (2005/2008) has been significant. Under EU Regulation 1107/2009, MB fumigant alternatives 1,3-dichloropropene and chloropicrin were also phased out (in 2010 and 2013, respectively) while dazomet, metam sodium, and potassium were re-approved with crucial restrictions of rates and years of application. However, currently an EU Member State may authorize use of these phased-out fumigants for 120 days/year. This exemption has been used for strawberry (fruit and nursery production) and other crops in Spain, Italy, Belgium, France, UK, Cyprus, Malta, and Greece in recent years. To provide an update of the current situation, a comprehensive survey of 41 European and other industries has been completed. Most of them use crop rotation as the main pest management solution. Non-chemical solutions, in particular soilless cultivation, are important in the UK, Ireland, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Chemical fumigation is still important in Spain, Italy, Morocco, Turkey, France, and Belgium.

Evaluation of Non-Fumigant Alternative Soil Treatments for Strawberry Production in Huelva (Spain)

ABSTRACT Since 1997, our IFAPA working group has developed a series of projects to evaluate new chemical and non-chemical soil disinfestation practices. During 2013–14 non-chemical (biological) alternatives have been tested with the objective of improving the biosolarization techniques, using different carbon sources and doses of organic biofumigant products under different types of plastic tarp. Throughout the growing season, the greatest production for cv. Florida Fortuna (52,672 kg/ha, by the end of May) was obtained with biosolarization using dried olive pomace (12,500 kg/ha) and virtually impermeable film; whereas biosolarization with chicken manure at 25,000 kg/ha had the lowest fruit production (42,517 kg/ha) among biosolarization treatments. Biosolarization treatments significantly reduced soil populations of M. phaseolina and Fusarium spp., and effectively suppressed nematode infestation.

Effect of Planting and Harvesting Dates on Strawberry Fruit Quality under High Tunnels

ABSTRACT There is an increasing demand in the market to improve strawberry quality by promoting human-health compounds content, as these may play a significant role in the prevention of chronic diseases. Strawberry cultivars, environmental conditions, and agronomical conditions have an effect on fruit characteristics; therefore, it is necessary to constantly generate information about the cultivar response to different production areas and cultural practices. The goal of this work was to evaluate the effect of two planting dates, two harvest dates, and four strawberry cultivars on total phenolic acid (gallic acid equivalent), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and soluble solid content∙titratable acidity-1 (SSC∙TA-1) ratio in Huelva, Spain. Sixteen treatments resulted from the combination of four cultivars, two planting dates, and two harvest dates. Strawberry ‘Camarosa’, ‘Sabrosa’, ‘Aguedilla’, and ‘Fuentepina’ were selected for both seasons and planted on 7 Oct. (early planting) and 21 Oct. (late planting). Mid-February and mid-April were considered early and late harvest, respectively. Nutraceutical and organoleptic responses were specifics for each cultivar. The highest SSC∙TA-1 ratio was observed in ‘Fuentepina’ planted late and harvested early. ‘Aguedilla’ resulted in the highest phenolic content when harvested in the late season. Additionally, phenolic content was significantly higher when using late planting combined with late harvest in most of the cultivars. Late harvested ‘Camarosa’ showed the highest TA concentration, whereas ‘Sabrosa’ resulted in the highest SSC regardless of harvesting date. Additionally, ‘Aguedilla’ and ‘Sabrosa’ showed the highest ascorbic content. Strawberry quality could be improved by selecting the adequate planting and harvesting dates according to specific cultivars.