Temperature, Light Regimes, and Harvest Time Shape the Total Volatile Content and °Brix/Acidity Balance of Strawberry Fruit (Fragaria ananassa cv. Sonsation);




Santikko, Meeri; Kelanne, Niina; Yang, Baoru; Sønsteby, Anita; Hykkerud, Anne Linn

PublisherAmerican Chemical Society (ACS)

2026

 ACS Agricultural Science & Technology

6

7

1170

1184

2692-1952

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1021/acsagscitech.5c01080

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsagscitech.5c01080

https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/526977018



The sensory appeal of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) depends on its chemical composition, including sugars, organic acids, and aroma-active volatiles. To investigate the effects of temperature and light conditions on fruit quality, strawberry plants (cv. Sonsation) were grown at six temperature regimes (9, 12, 15, 18, 21 °C, and 21/9 °C-day/night) and four combinations of light intensities (150 and 300 μmol/m2/s) and photoperiods (12 and 24 h/day). Yield, °Brix/acidity ratio and volatile compounds were assessed. °Brix increased with light intensity and photoperiod, while higher temperatures (15–21 °C) correlated with acidity. A favorable °Brix/acidity ratio correlated with both continuous light and high light intensity, as well as low ripening temperature. Volatile content peaked at 15 °C, and declined at 9 °C, proportionally elevating acids and reducing terpenoids. The findings indicate that extended high-intensity light can optimize sweetness and aroma in cv. Sonsation, whereas low temperatures benefit the °Brix-acidity balance but may reduce volatile compound development.


This work was conducted as part of the project "TastyStrawberry", funded by the Norwegian Agricultural Agreement Research Fund/Foundation for Research Levy on Agricultural Products, grant number 336302, and Grofondet, grant number 210048.


Last updated on 07/08/2026 01:17:01 PM