Quality and nutritional value of strawberry fruit under long term salt stress

Modifications of fruit quality, in response to a long-term salt stress of four months, were studied in two strawberry cultivars differing in their sensitivity to salinity. The sensitive cv. Elsanta and the less sensitive cv. Korona were treated during two vegetation seasons with 0, 40 or 80 mmol NaCl/l in the nutrient solution. While mean fruit weight decreased, dry matter and contents of total soluble carbohydrates, as well as sweetness index of fruits, remained constant. Salt stress in both cultivars increased the antioxidant capacity, antioxidants pools (ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, superoxide dismutase) and selected minerals such as Na+, Cl−, K+, N, P and Zn2+, as well as lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, salt stress increased the contents of free and essential amino acids, especially in cv. Elsanta. The more tolerant cv. Korona was characterized by an increase of reduced glutathione and a better fruit taste. In salt-stressed fruits of cv. Elsanta, taste was significantly impaired.