Effect of trehalose treatment on the growth of strawberry plants under high-temperature stress

High temperatures and high humidity during summer pose a significant threat to strawberry production, highlighting the need for strategies to maintain seedling vigor and fruit quality.This study investigated the potential of trehalose, an eco-friendly non-reducing disaccharide, to mitigate high-temperature damage in strawberries.Under controlled laboratory conditions, trehalose treatment significantly enhanced and sustained the expression of the heat shock transcription factor FvHsfA2a in the everbearing line 'w 331', indicating a modulation of heat stress signaling at the cellular level.For practical validation, trehalose was applied via foliar spray to 'Seolhyang' and 'w 331' plants in a greenhouse.The plants exhibited no phytotoxicity symptoms following long-term trehalose application, supporting its safety for horticultural use.However, under the extremely high temperature conditions (exceeding 45℃) encountered during the trial, no significant differences were detected in key phenotypic traits, including plant growth, leaf area, and fruit characteristics, between trehalose-treated and untreated plants.These results suggest that, although trehalose activates molecular defense responses, the absence of a measurable increase in heat tolerance may be associated with the severity of the stress and the limited absorption efficiency of foliar application.Therefore, while trehalose appears safe, further research is needed to optimize its use, focusing on improved delivery methods (e.g., surfactants or irrigation) and effective concentrations that can translate the observed molecular responses into practical heat tolerance under cultivation conditions.