Interaction Effect of Foliar Application of Ascorbic Acid and Salt Stress on Some Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch) cv. “Selva”

Ascorbic acid is one of the most important water-soluble antioxidant in plants, which involves in biotic and abiotic stresses as a nantioxidant molecule. This study was designed to investigate the effect of foliar spraying of ascorbic acid on physiological, biochemical and growth characterstics of strawberry cv “Selva”. A factorial experiment was conducted in completely randomized design with three levels of NaCl (0, 15 and 30 mM) and three levels of ascorbic acid (0, 1.5 and 3 mM) with three replications in greenhouse. The results showed that the dry and fresh weight of leaves and roots decreased in stressed plants while ascorbic acid spray significantly increased these parameters. Salinity stress also significantly decreased some physiological characteristics such as leaf relative water content, chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll, but increased ion leakage. The foliar application of ascorbic acid significantly increased relative water content, chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll and decreased ion leakage. The rise in sodium chloride concentration, elevated proline and soluble carbohydrates in leaves. Spraying plants under salinity conditions with ascorbic acid increased soluble carbohydrates while had no significant effect on leaf proline content. Leaf soluble proteins showed a significant decrease under salinity treatments and with application of ascorbic acid increased. According to the results of this study, foliar application of ascorbic acid can be recommended in order to reduce the harmful effects of sodium chloride on strawberry plants.