Application Effect of Chlorella Fusca CHK0059 as a Biofertilizer for Strawberry Cultivation

BACKGROUND: Green algae (Chlorella spp.) has been widely used as a biofertilizer to improve the crop yield and quality. However, available information is not enough to verify the mechanism of green algae’s beneficial impact on strawberry. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Chlorella fusca CHK005 application on the growth and nutrient status of strawberry plant and fruit characteristics. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 800 seedlings of strawberry variety ‘Kuemsil’ were planted. Once a week, C. fusca culture solution (1.0 × 107 cells mL^-1) was applied into soil via irrigation in four different concentrations: no application (control), 1/1000 times (× 0.5), 1/500 times (× 1), and 1/250 times (× 2). Result showed that growth of strawberry plant was enhanced by Chlorella application and the highest impact on fresh weight (FW) and chlorophyll content of the plants were observed in × 2 treatment, followed by × 1, × 0.5, and control treatments. The phosphorus (P) concentration in the plant was significantly higher in × 1 and × 2 treatments compared to control. In case of fruit quality, sugar content (°Brix), hardness, and FW were lowest in control, but these values increased as application levels of Chlorella were higher. Also, P and K contents in the fruits increased with increasing the application levels and significant correlation between P content and oBrix in the fruits was found. CONCLUSION(S): Overall, Chlorella application seemed to improve plant growth and fruit quality by increasing the utilization efficiency of P and K in strawberries.