Summary:

The response of three strawberry cultivars (‘Elsanta', ‘Elkat', ‘Grandaro-sa') to drought was examined by evaluating the yield and selected morphological and physiological parameters. Plants were subjected to two different water regimes: optimal irrigation (control), and reduced irrigation (water potential in the growing medium was maintained at a level -30 kPa, stress treatment). Genotypes differed in their response to water deficiency. Under water shortage conditions, the rate of CO2 assimilation and efficiency of photosynthetic apparatus (expressed by chlorophyll fluorescence parameters) were the highest in ‘Elsanta'. On the other hand, the severe inhibition of photosynthesis was observed in ‘Elkat', which corresponded to the reduced biomass production. Taking all data into consideration it was concluded that cultivar ‘Elsanta' appeared to be more drought resistant which was reflected by enhanced physiological and yield parameters.