The effect of organic manures in soilless culture on shelf-life extension of strawberry fruit (Fragaria × ananassa Duch. cv. Camarosa)

Growing media could affect quality and shelf life of strawberry fruits. In the present study، effect of seven growing media including a control medium (50% cocopeat + 50% perlite v/v)، and media supplemented with either 10، 20 and 40% of vermicompost or cattle manure in a completely randomized design with three replications was studied on postharvest quality and shelf life extension of Camarosa strawberry fruits. Freshly picked strawberry fruits were submerged in 1 mM putrescine solution for 5 minutes and after being air-dried at room temperature، were kept in plastic containers at 4 ºC refrigerator. After 15 days، total soluble solids (TSS)، total acidity (TA)، TSS/TA ratio، fruit firmness and the percentage of fruit weight loss were determined. The results of analysis of variance showed that growing media had significant effect on fruit firmness، TA، TSS، TSS/TA ratio and percentage of fruit weight loss. The lowest fruit weight loss (16. 2%) belonged to 10% cattle manure medium and the highest weight loss (36%) was observed in control medium. The highest fruit TSS content (19. 13%) was observed in the growing medium containing 40% vermicompost. Since soilless culture growing media of strawberry are pathogen-free، no fruit was rotted before or after the harvest. Therefore، by using organic fertilizers in growing media، not only there is no need to use chemical fungicides، but also it would be possible to increase postharvest shelf life of strawberry fruits.