https://aurora.auburn.edu/handle/11200/44219 2026-04-11T23:23:12Z 2026-04-11T23:23:12Z https://aurora.auburn.edu/handle/11200/50772 2026-04-01T22:04:19Z

Yield and Fruit Quality of ‘Albion’ and ‘San Andreas’ Strawberry in Hydroponic Culture in Alabama, United States Over a Single Season Day-neutral strawberry cultivars Albion and San Andreas were cultivated hydroponically in a climate-con-trolled greenhouse (temperature and light regulated) to assess fruit quality and anthocyanin composition, which are important attributes for flavor and color (visual appeal), respectively. Fruits were collected from 6 Feb 2023, until 18 May 2023, at Auburn University, AL. Soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (Tacid), pH, total phenolics (TPC), and anthocyanins [total anthocyanins (TAC), cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), pelar-gonidin-3-glucoside (P3G), pelargonidin-3-rutinoside (P3R), pelargonidin-3-malonylglucoside (P3M)] were determined from the juice of thawed frozen fruits. Average fruit yield (Fyield; g·plant-1) was similar between cultivars. Both cultivars were similar for SSC, Tacid, TPC, TAC, and the major pigment (P3G) when averaged across days after transplanting (DAT). Pelargonidin-based pigments predominantly characterized the antho-cyanin profile. Minor pigments differed, with more C3G (mg 100 g/fresh weight) in ‘Albion’ than in ‘San Andreas’ (0.39 and 0.18, respectively), whilst ‘San Andreas’ had more P3R (mg 100 g/fresh weight) than ‘Albion’ (2.26 and 1.81, respectively). Plant age (DAT, non-replicated) influenced SSC, Tacid, and most of the anthocyanins. Fyield, Tacid, and SSC were higher in plants at 140 DAT (early spring), but lower in plants at 180 DAT (late spring), indicating a potential plant age effect on fruit productivity and quality. Correlation analysis indicated a robust positive correlation between TAC, C3G, pelargonidin anthocyanins (P3G, P3R, P3M), and Fyield, whereas Fyield was inversely correlated with Tacid and TPC. Our results indicate that strawberry fruit qual-ity is influenced by cultivar-specific pigment profiles, seasonal variations, and yield interactions, highlighting the need to balance productivity with market-preferred traits in hydroponic greenhouse systems