Effect of silicon supplementation on growth and metabolism of strawberry plants at three developmental stages

The effect of silicon (Si) was studied in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) plants grown under greenhouse conditions and harvested at vegetative, flowering and fruiting stages. Vegetative growth and fruit dry weight were improved by Si. The concentration of carbohydrates decreased in the leaves but increased in the roots upon Si treatment. However, the level of the soluble protein pool increased in both leaves and roots at the expense of free amino acids at all three developmental stages. Analyses of phenolics by HPLC and assay of enzyme activity in both soluble and cell wall-bound fractions of the leaves, roots and fruits indicated that Si significantly modified the profile of phenolics and the activity of metabolising enzymes at all three developmental stages. All fruit quality parameters were remarkably improved by Si. According to our results, Si improves both quantitative and qualitative parameters in strawberries through stimulation of growth and modification of phenolics metabolism.