Gorgan University Of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Journal of Plant Production Research 2322-2050 31 4 2024 12 21 The effect of melatonin and fulvic acid on the absorption of nutrients and yield of strawberries under water stress. The effect of melatonin and fulvic acid on the absorption of nutrients and yield of strawberries under water stress. 89 107 7189 10.22069/jopp.2024.22075.3107 FA Mohammad Safa Eynaladin Ph.D. Student of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. Aliakbar Shokouhian Corresponding Author, Associate Prof., Dept. of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. Ali Rasoulzadeh Professor, Dept. of Water Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran Arash Hemati Qizil Toprag Sahand Company, Tabriz, Iran Journal Article 2024 01 09 ABSTRACT Background and Objectives: Strawberry is a small fruit with global significance because of its unique taste and the presence of a variety of biological compounds. But this crop is highly susceptible to drought stress. Drought causing economic losses due to the lower product quality. The occurrence of intense and longer periods of drought reduce crop yield and fruit quality. The scarcity of water resources is the main cause of crop loss worldwide, which will soon become even more severe as climate changes affects more and more regions of the world. Therefore, considering the economic importance and increasing demand for small fruits, especially strawberry, in this study, the effect of melatonin and fulvic acid on the amount of nutrients in the leaves and its effect on the growth characteristics of strawberry under water stress was investigated. Materials and Methods: This experiment was performed in Bostanabad city in East Azerbaijan. To run the experiment Strawberry seedlings (Kamarosa cultivar) were obtained from a commercial strawberry growing greenhouse in Urmia in October and transferred to the greenhouse in cultivation trays. Laboratory investigations were performed in the laboratories of the Department of Horticulture and Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Mohaghegh Ardabili University. This experiment was performed as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with 3 factors in 4 replications. Factors include water stress at three levels of 100 (full irrigation (control), 25 and 50%, maintainable water drain), melatonin at three levels (control, 75 and 150 μM) and fulvic acid at three levels (control, 200 and 400 mg/l). The following traits were examined: shoot and root fresh and dry weight, yield, and macro and microelements. SAS software version 9.1 was used for data analysis, and Duncan's multiple range test with a 5% level of probability was used to compare the means of treatments. Results: Analysis of variance of data showed that root fresh and dry weight, yield, Potassium, Calcium and Iron were significant under the influence of the interaction effect of drought stress*melatonin*fulvic acid. As well as shoot fresh and dry weight, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, zinc, boron and copper were significant under the influence of the the interaction effect of drought stress*melatonin and drought stress*fulvic acid. In addition, zinc, copper, sulfur and nitrogen were significant under the influence of the the interaction effect of melatonin*fulvic acid. Magnesium and Manganese were significant under the influence of the simple effect of drought stress, melatonin and fulvic acid. Conclusion: Overall, the results of the present study show that the use of fulvic acid and melatonin may be an effective approach to improve the growth and yield of strawberry plants under drought stress. fulvic acid and melatonin helped to increase macro and microelements absorption of strawberry plants, which icreased growth. Also, foliar application of fulvic acid and melatonin had a protective role on strawberry plants grown under drought stress and its optimal concentration played an important role in increasing drought tolerance. ABSTRACT Background and Objectives: Strawberry is a small fruit with global significance because of its unique taste and the presence of a variety of biological compounds. But this crop is highly susceptible to drought stress. Drought causing economic losses due to the lower product quality. The occurrence of intense and longer periods of drought reduce crop yield and fruit quality. The scarcity of water resources is the main cause of crop loss worldwide, which will soon become even more severe as climate changes affects more and more regions of the world. Therefore, considering the economic importance and increasing demand for small fruits, especially strawberry, in this study, the effect of melatonin and fulvic acid on the amount of nutrients in the leaves and its effect on the growth characteristics of strawberry under water stress was investigated. Materials and Methods: This experiment was performed in Bostanabad city in East Azerbaijan. To run the experiment Strawberry seedlings (Kamarosa cultivar) were obtained from a commercial strawberry growing greenhouse in Urmia in October and transferred to the greenhouse in cultivation trays. Laboratory investigations were performed in the laboratories of the Department of Horticulture and Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Mohaghegh Ardabili University. This experiment was performed as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with 3 factors in 4 replications. Factors include water stress at three levels of 100 (full irrigation (control), 25 and 50%, maintainable water drain), melatonin at three levels (control, 75 and 150 μM) and fulvic acid at three levels (control, 200 and 400 mg/l). The following traits were examined: shoot and root fresh and dry weight, yield, and macro and microelements. SAS software version 9.1 was used for data analysis, and Duncan's multiple range test with a 5% level of probability was used to compare the means of treatments. Results: Analysis of variance of data showed that root fresh and dry weight, yield, Potassium, Calcium and Iron were significant under the influence of the interaction effect of drought stress*melatonin*fulvic acid. As well as shoot fresh and dry weight, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, zinc, boron and copper were significant under the influence of the the interaction effect of drought stress*melatonin and drought stress*fulvic acid. In addition, zinc, copper, sulfur and nitrogen were significant under the influence of the the interaction effect of melatonin*fulvic acid. Magnesium and Manganese were significant under the influence of the simple effect of drought stress, melatonin and fulvic acid. Conclusion: Overall, the results of the present study show that the use of fulvic acid and melatonin may be an effective approach to improve the growth and yield of strawberry plants under drought stress. fulvic acid and melatonin helped to increase macro and microelements absorption of strawberry plants, which icreased growth. Also, foliar application of fulvic acid and melatonin had a protective role on strawberry plants grown under drought stress and its optimal concentration played an important role in increasing drought tolerance.

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