Journal of Soil and Plant Interactions

In order to identify drought tolerant strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) cultivars and investigate some of their morphological, quantitative and qualitative characteristics, a research was conducted as split plots based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications under greenhouse conditions. Deficit irrigation stress was considered as the main plot factor at 4 levels (control (0), 20, 40 and 60 percent) and subplot factor was cultivar at 6 levels (Kurdistan, Camarosa, Merak, Paros, Queen Eliza and Selva). Leaf area showed a 41.42% reduction, and number of flowers and fruits showed 90% reduction in 60% stress treatment in comparison to the control. Total soluble solids (TSS) showed an increasing trend up to 40% stress severity. As stress increased, titrable acidity (TA) showed a decreasing trend. A high heritability was observed for number of flowers and fruits, fruit weight and TSS. Considering the three-dimensional plot of STI,  and , the Kurdistan and Camarosa cultivars were identified as the most suitable cultivars in both deficit irrigation stress and non-stress conditions. So, these cultivars could be used in breeding programs in order to increase drought tolerance. According to the responses of cultivars to deficit-water stress, more leaf area, number of flowers, number of fruits number, fruit weight, and TSS, and lower TA are introduced as the selection criteria for drought tolerant strawberry cultivars.