Articles
EVALUATION OF DAY-NEUTRAL CULTIVARS FOR ORGANIC STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION IN WASHINGTON
Article number
1001_18
Pages
167 – 174
Language
English
Abstract
Day-neutral strawberries (Fragaria ×ananassa) are an important crop for Pacific Northwest (PNW) organic farmers.
Day-neutral cultivars are primarily developed in other regions for conventional production systems, and their suitability for organic production under PNW growing conditions is untested.
Ten day-neutral cultivars in research plots, and a subset of five commercially important day-neutral cultivars at four Washington organic farms were evaluated for yield, fruit quality traits, vigor, and flavor in the establishment year and the second carryover year. Aromas and Seascape were the highest yielding and most durable cultivars under organic management in both the first and second production years.
However, flavor of Aromas was rated low, and Seascape was susceptible to verticillium wilt. Albion was not as robust a cultivar as Aromas, but was rated very highly for flavor.
Vigor estimates at various stages of growth appear to be correlated with yield and durability.
New breeding efforts for the day-neutral strawberry type in this region will rely on evaluation criteria identified in this cultivar trial.
Day-neutral cultivars are primarily developed in other regions for conventional production systems, and their suitability for organic production under PNW growing conditions is untested.
Ten day-neutral cultivars in research plots, and a subset of five commercially important day-neutral cultivars at four Washington organic farms were evaluated for yield, fruit quality traits, vigor, and flavor in the establishment year and the second carryover year. Aromas and Seascape were the highest yielding and most durable cultivars under organic management in both the first and second production years.
However, flavor of Aromas was rated low, and Seascape was susceptible to verticillium wilt. Albion was not as robust a cultivar as Aromas, but was rated very highly for flavor.
Vigor estimates at various stages of growth appear to be correlated with yield and durability.
New breeding efforts for the day-neutral strawberry type in this region will rely on evaluation criteria identified in this cultivar trial.
Publication
Authors
W. Hoashi-Erhardt, P. Moore, D. Collins, A. Bary , C. Cogger
Keywords
Fragaria ×ananassa, yield, vigor, flavor, fruit quality
Online Articles (47)