Biostimulant Formulations Modulate Root–Shoot Biomass And Increase Strawberry Yield In A Commercial Protected System

Plant biostimulants have gained increasing attention as sustainable tools for enhancing crop performance, particularly in intensive horticultural systems. This study evaluated the effects of two commercial biostimulant formulations—a silicon dioxide-based solid product and a sugar beet molasses–based liquid product—on vegetative growth, biomass allocation, flowering, and yield of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. Albion grown under protected cultivation in southern Brazil. The experiment was carried out under commercial production conditions, comparing a conventional management system (control) with two biostimulant treatments applied according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Vegetative growth, root and shoot dry mass, flowering intensity, fruit weight, and yield components were evaluated. Both biostimulants significantly increased plant vigor and aboveground biomass compared with the control, while the molasses-based formulation also markedly enhanced root dry mass. Earlier and more abundant flowering was observed in plants treated with sugar beet molasses, resulting in increased fruit weight and overall yield. Relative to the control, the molasses-based biostimulant increased average fruit weight by approximately 27% and total yield by about 26%, whereas the silicon-based treatment increased yield by approximately 17%. Overall, biostimulant application improved biomass partitioning and productive performance of strawberry plants under protected cultivation. These findings indicate that biostimulants, particularly molasses-based formulations, represent an effective and scalable strategy to enhance strawberry productivity in commercial protected systems. Keywords : Small fruits. Fragaria × ananassa; Plant biostimulus; Silicon dioxide; Sugar beet molasses.