Abstract

This research was carried out to investigate the effect of two soilless culture systems, i.e., solid substrates mixture as an open system and hydroponic (DFT technique) as a closed system on the vegetative growth, leaf anatomy and fruits yield and quality in comparison with traditional soil culture system during 2017 and 2018 seasons. The growth of strawberry plants cv. Festival cultivated in both applied culture systems was significantly enhanced in comparison with the traditional soil cultivated plants (control). Significant increases in the fresh and dry weights of root and shoots, root size, number of leaves and total leaves area/plant were attained by the applied soilless culture systems, whereas a significant reduction in roots/shoots ratio was occurred. In addition, both applied soil alternative media caused a significant increase in the leaf content of photosynthetic pigments, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium and crude protein compared with the control. Anatomically, the applied alternative media led to obvious increases in the thickness of mid vein, length and width of main vascular bundle, thickness of phloem and xylem tissues, number of xylem vessels/bundle and thickness of lamina and its comprising tissues (upper and lower epidermis and mesophyll tissue). Moreover, the fruit yield/plant and fruit characteristics namely fresh and dry weight, dry matter/fruit were significantly improved as affected by the applied soilless culture systems compared to the control. Furthermore, a significant increase occurred in the concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, M, crude protein; reducing, nonreducing and total soluble sugars and vitamin C contents as well as Total Soluble Solids (TSS) estimated in the marketable fruits of strawberry plants cultivated in the two soilless culture systems (solid substrates mixture and hydroponic system), while, the titratable acidity % wasn’t significantly affected. these advantageous effects on different studied growth, chemical anatomical and fruit yield and quality were most pronounced in case of the solid substrate cultivated plants followed by the hydroponically plants cultivated. These findings, therefore, strongly recommend the use of the applied soil alternative media as effective, safe and eco-friendly agricultural practices in the cultivation of strawberries and other vegetables to improve their growth, productivity and sanitary quality.

Keywords: Soilless culture system, Hydroponics, Strawberry, Leaf anatomy, Fruit yield, Sanitary quality