Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Technologia Alimentaria

Abstract The spraying with titanium is one of the agronomic practices used to stimulate the flowering, bearing of fruit and production of strawberry plants. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of titanium treatment (Ti⁴⁺-ascorbate) on L-ascorbic acid, total polyphenol, antioxidant activity, and phenolics profile of six strawberry fruit cultivars. The experiment was carried out on a commercial plantation where basic fertilization and protection of plants followed the recommendations for the species. The chemical composition of strawberries, as a response to titanium treatment, was differential and cultivar-dependent. A significant increase of total polyphenol content was noted only in ‘Elkat’ berries. The treatment resulted in the increase of L-ascorbic acid in all the cultivars, except for ‘Kent’. However, the influence of Ti on the antioxidant activity of strawberries against ABTS (2,2’-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6sulfonic acid) and DPPH (2-di¬phenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical was differential. Only in treated ‘Elsanta’ fruit a significant enhancement of scavenging both radicals was observed. Moreover, the treatment caused a significant increase of total anthocyanin content in ‘Kent’, ‘Selva’ and ‘Senga’ fruit, and a significant decrease of these compounds in ‘Dukat’ berries. Regarding total proanthocyanidins, the only significant change was a decline observed in treated ‘Elsanta’ berries. The applied treatment exerted no considerable effect on ellagic acid and p-cou¬maric acid content in any of cultivars tested.