The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of the application of potassium silicate via foliar and in fertirrigation on the physcochemical attributes, quality and coloration indices of strawberry fruits. The experimental design utilized was completely randomized in a 5 x 2 factorial with five concentrations of potassium silicate (0; 0.25; 0.5; 0.75 and 1% of Sili-K®), weekly, in presence and absence of Si in the fertirrigation solution (0 and 94 mg dm-3), with five replicates in each treatment. The "fruits" analyzed were collected 110 days after planting for determination of citric acid, pulp pH, total pectin, soluble pectin, pectin solubilization, total sugars, glucose and sucrose. The analyzed coloration indices were: L and A indices of external and internal coloration of the "fruits". The potassium silicate foliate application reduced the citric acid content and pulp pH and raises the total contents of sugars and glucose. Associated to Si in fertirrigation, increased concentrations of potassium silicate foliar applied reduced the solubilization of pectin that are always smaller in absence of Si in fertirrigation. The concentrations of leaf-applied potassium silicate in the presence or absence Si fertirrigation change the brightness and the internal and external color of the "fruits".
Fragaria X ananassa (Weston) Duchesne; foliar fertilization; potassium silicate
