Screening of strawberry (<i>Fragaria × ananassa</i> Duch.) cultivars for drought tolerance based on physiological and biochemical responses under PEG-induced stress.

ABSTRACT: Climate change-driven water scarcity poses increasing challenges to strawberry production worldwide. This study evaluated drought tolerance mechanisms in fifteen strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cultivars in the first year and seven selected cultivars in the second year, including Turkish local varieties, using polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced drought stress in controlled greenhouse conditions. Key physiological and biochemical parameters were assessed, including relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll content, Photosynthetic Quantum Yield, leaf dry matter content (LDMC), sugar composition, and antioxidant capacity. Drought stress significantly reduced RWC by 13.1% in year one and 7.5% in year two, while chlorophyll content declined by 4.8% and 6.6%, respectively. Ph

SUBMITTER: Attar SH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12477223 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature