Articles
Modeling the flower and fruit phenology of strawberries
Article number
1425_55
Pages
429 – 436
Language
English
Abstract
Strawberry demand has increased to reach a yearly per capita consumption of 9.8 pounds in the US. The strawberry crop has gone through various developments, but there are still several challenges affecting growth and development such as pests, weeds, diseases, and cold damage in outdoor systems.
We aimed to model the flower and fruit phenology of strawberries.
Two day-neutral cultivars grown under a hydroponic system were considered in this study.
For phenological observations, 20 plants per cultivar and three flowers per plant were followed from the floral bud to the maturation of the fruit.
A scale for six stages was developed for each cultivar.
Stages including close bud (C), open flower (OF), petal fall (PF), green fruit (GF), fruit development (FD), and mature fruit (R) were recorded.
The prediction of the phenological stages from flower to fruit maturity was assessed over time using a nonlinear Gaussian model.
The duration of each stage was modeled in terms of growing degree days (GDD). It is expected that alternative production systems in controlled environments extend the production season and heighten the postharvest quality of the fruit allowing the off-season market demand to be beneficial to the strawberry industry.
We aimed to model the flower and fruit phenology of strawberries.
Two day-neutral cultivars grown under a hydroponic system were considered in this study.
For phenological observations, 20 plants per cultivar and three flowers per plant were followed from the floral bud to the maturation of the fruit.
A scale for six stages was developed for each cultivar.
Stages including close bud (C), open flower (OF), petal fall (PF), green fruit (GF), fruit development (FD), and mature fruit (R) were recorded.
The prediction of the phenological stages from flower to fruit maturity was assessed over time using a nonlinear Gaussian model.
The duration of each stage was modeled in terms of growing degree days (GDD). It is expected that alternative production systems in controlled environments extend the production season and heighten the postharvest quality of the fruit allowing the off-season market demand to be beneficial to the strawberry industry.
Authors
M.R. Salazar-Gutiérrez, N. Hernández-Martínez, B. Chaves-Córdoba
Keywords
Fragaria × ananassa, growing degree-days, fruit development, strawberry, phenology
Groups involved
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Working Group Modelling in Fruit Research and Orchard Management
- Working Group Modelling Plant Growth, Environmental Control, Greenhouse Environment
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
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