Effect of rain shelter and shading on plantlets growth and antioxidant contents in strawberry

Abstract

In the present experiment, a susceptible strawberry Benihoppe was employed to note the effect of rain shelter and shading on plantlets growth and antioxidant system. In the shading treatments, the temperature (1:00 pm) inside the greenhouse was reduced compared to the control. The plastic house covered with 60 and 70% shading nets could decrease the temperature by less than 1°C compared with 80 and 90% shading nets, which could decrease it by 1.2 and 1.3°C, respectively. Even in the cloudy dawn and dusk, shading net with 80% can maintain a light intensity of more than 10,000 lux and plantlets could grow healthy. The plantlets under shading environment grew longer than the control. The plantlets under 90% shading rate had the maximum height, i.e. 14.35% higher than the control. The anthracnose incidence and disease index were reduced under shade nets, while the average plantlet numbers per square metre increased. The maximum numbers were under those of 80 and 90% shading rate treatments. The disease incidence was minimum under 80% shading treatment. The shading treatment, altered the content of Chl and MDA, while SOD and POD activities, significantly in order to adapt to the low light environment. The 80% shading net was the most suitable shading measure.