Effect of Steiner Nutrient Solution Concentration on Productive Variables of Physalis peruviana L. Inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum

Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) is considered an exotic fruit by the international market; however, in Mexico, there is little information available on its nutritional and phytosanitary management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the concentration of the Steiner nutrient solution (SNS) on yield and quality variables in P. peruviana. A 2 × 3 factorial experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, combining pathogen inoculation with the concentrations of the SNS at 50, 100, and 150%. This work presents a methodological limitation regarding SNS, as it uses only one tank per concentration. Results indicated that equatorial diameter, firmness, and total soluble solids did not show significant differences between the inoculated and non-inoculated plants. However, the number of fruits and yield were affected by the presence of the pathogen in the plant, with decreases of 25.54% and 38.06%, respectively. In addition, no interaction was observed between inoculation and SNS concentrations; therefore, Tukey’s test was used to compare treatment combinations, finding that the highest yield was obtained by the non-inoculated plants at 150% SNS. As the concentration of the SNS increased in inoculated plants, the yield increased. The pH and electrical conductivity (EC) of the fruit juice were not affected by the presence of the pathogen in the plant.