Effects of Biostimulants on Leaf Surface Area in Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.)

Biostimulants are already widely used in agriculture and horticulture; however, controlled and well-designed experiments that allow direct comparison of individual products remain limited in the case of strawberry. The aim of our study was to draw attention to the beneficial effects of biostimulants not only in major agricultural crops but also in strawberry production. By examining the effects of the biostimulants included in the experiment (FoliQ AscoVigor, RhizoMagic, Amalgerol and Tytanit) and by publishing scientifically validated data, we intend to support practitioners, as the results may provide guidance for both commercial strawberry growers and home gardeners regarding the expected effects of the tested biostimulants. The experiment was conducted during the spring–summer period of 2023 using three popular strawberry cultivars (Senga Sengana, Korona and Sonata) at the Georgikon Campus of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences in Keszthely. Our results showed that, compared with the untreated control (which received irrigation water only), all treatments resulted in higher leaf surface area values. A dynamic increase in leaf development was also observed in the treated groups. Biostimulant application further enhanced leaf surface area in strawberry, although the magnitude of this increase varied depending on the product applied.