Microbial Biofertilization to Improve Yield and Quality of Strawberry

Microorganisms inhabiting the soil and rhizosphere take part in biogeochemical cycles and enhance the availability of macronutrients leading to improved soil productivity and enhanced food production. This study was conducted to examine the effect of inoculation of plant growth-promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) on phenological data, yield per plant and fruit quality characteristics of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch) cv. 'Chandler' during 2016 and 2017. Root inoculations with rhizobacteria significantly increased yield per plant (1.59-25.03%) and average fruit weight (1.00-12.86%) compared to control, whereas the bacterial inoculations did not affect dry weight of plant, fruit size and moisture content in strawberry cv. 'Chandler'. The bacterial inoculations also increased soluble solid content (SSC),ascorbic acid and anthocyanin content in strawberry. The ascorbic acidand anthocyanin contents of fruits ranged from 38.70 ml /100ml (control) to 41.41 ml/ 100ml (CPS67), 39.90 ml/ 100ml (control) to 42.96 ml/ 100ml (CPS67), while TSS varied between 6.26% (control) and 7.45% (HMM57). Thus, inoculation ofrhizobacterial strains JMM15, HMM57, HMM92 and CPS67 have the potential to increase the yield and growth of strawberries and could provide a promising sustainable strategy to improve strawberry growth in low fertility soils.