Determination of the effects of sodium nitroprusside on flooding stress in strawberry

Plants typically adapt to hypoxia stress through various anatomical adjustments. Gas space formation in roots and/or leaves helps plants to deliver oxygen. Nitric oxide (NO) triggers aerenchyma formation in the plants. In the current experiment, we evaluated the effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, as a donor of NO) on strawberry under waterlogging conditions. Albion cultivar strawberry plants were planted in pots and 1 month after planting, plants underwent waterlogging stress by placing pots within plastic containers filled with either water or a 100 μmol SNP solution. Waterlogging condition was employed to the plants 2 hours later SNP treatment. Control plants were kept under optimal soil moisture conditions. Some of the plants were delicately uprooted at 1 and 2 days after imposing the stress and 14 days of recovery period was followed under well-drained condition. End of the study, waterlogging stress depressed strawberry growth and hampered chlorophyll biosynthesis. SNP treatment improved the growth, cortical cell expansion, xylem conduit diameter under waterlogging conditions. Moreover, SNP increased the fruit quality properties. SNP treatment fortified the durability of spongy parenchyma in unstressed scenarios while specifically hindering spongy cells to amplify gas production amidst stressful periods.