Abstract
This study aims at assessing the influence of two essential nutrients, Phosphorous (P) and Iron (Fe), on the quality and quantity of bioactive compounds of strawberry fruits as well as on some other strawberry fruit quality indexes as firmness, colour, antioxidant activity, sugar content and acidity. Fragaria x ananassa cv. Elsanta plants were grown hydroponically either in a full nutrient (control), a zero Fe (-Fe) and a zero P (-P) nutrient solution. Plant growth parameters were monitored and strawberry fruits collected at commercial harvest were analyzed for their elemental composition, degrees Brix, titratable acidity, firmness, antioxidant power and phenolic compounds. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that three homogeneous clusters could be identified. The three treatments differed especially because of their phenolic compounds and antioxidant potential, being the strawberry fruits grown under Fe and P deficiency richer in pelargonidin-3- glucoside, benzoic acids and flavonols than the control fruits. The nutrient availability might thus be shaped in the growing medium of strawberry fruits increasing their nutritional value. The research was financed by MIUR-FIRB 2012 Futuro in Ricerca