Articles
The later, the better? Differences in field performance and fruit quality traits in newly introduced Italian short-day strawberry cultivars
Article number
1449_64
Pages
475 – 484
Language
English
Abstract
The objective of this study was to compare newly introduced mid- and late-ripening strawberry cultivars (‘Arianna’, ‘Tea’ and ‘Federica’) with the commercially important cultivar ‘Joly’ to determine the best performing cultivars for extended market supply.
A field study was conducted in a strawberry orchard in the municipality of Šid (Serbia) during 2021-2022. The orchard was planted in July 2020 in double rows on beds covered with black polyethylene foil.
Cultivars were evaluated for their flowering and ripening time, plant growth, yield components and fruit quality (fruit weight, soluble solids content – SSC, total acids – TA, vitamin C, total anthocyanins – TACY, total phenolics – TPC as well as total antioxidant capacity – TAC). This study showed that the earliest average beginning of maturity was in ‘Arianna’ (May 19) and the latest in ‘Federica’ (May 29). The number of branch crowns and leaves per plant was significantly lower in ‘Tea’ and ‘Federica’ compared to ‘Joly’ as the standard cultivar, while plant height did not differ among the tested cultivars.
The cultivar ‘Tea’ had the highest productivity (947 g plant‑1 and 4.17 kg m‑2), followed by ‘Joly’ (865 g plant‑1 and 3.81 kg m‑2). In contrast, the lowest yield was observed in ‘Federica’ (698 g plant‑1 and 3.07 kg m‑2). The highest fruit weight (29.7 g), but also the lowest content of TA, TACY, and TPC (0.56%, 18.5 mg pg-3-g eq 100 g‑1 FW and 0.72 mg GA eq g‑1 FW, respectively) were recorded in ‘Tea’. This comprehensive study has shown that the most productive cultivar ‘Tea’ can meet the commercial requirements of growers, while ‘Arianna’ and ‘Federica’ are confirmed to be more beneficial to human health due to the higher concentration of various phytochemicals considered.
A field study was conducted in a strawberry orchard in the municipality of Šid (Serbia) during 2021-2022. The orchard was planted in July 2020 in double rows on beds covered with black polyethylene foil.
Cultivars were evaluated for their flowering and ripening time, plant growth, yield components and fruit quality (fruit weight, soluble solids content – SSC, total acids – TA, vitamin C, total anthocyanins – TACY, total phenolics – TPC as well as total antioxidant capacity – TAC). This study showed that the earliest average beginning of maturity was in ‘Arianna’ (May 19) and the latest in ‘Federica’ (May 29). The number of branch crowns and leaves per plant was significantly lower in ‘Tea’ and ‘Federica’ compared to ‘Joly’ as the standard cultivar, while plant height did not differ among the tested cultivars.
The cultivar ‘Tea’ had the highest productivity (947 g plant‑1 and 4.17 kg m‑2), followed by ‘Joly’ (865 g plant‑1 and 3.81 kg m‑2). In contrast, the lowest yield was observed in ‘Federica’ (698 g plant‑1 and 3.07 kg m‑2). The highest fruit weight (29.7 g), but also the lowest content of TA, TACY, and TPC (0.56%, 18.5 mg pg-3-g eq 100 g‑1 FW and 0.72 mg GA eq g‑1 FW, respectively) were recorded in ‘Tea’. This comprehensive study has shown that the most productive cultivar ‘Tea’ can meet the commercial requirements of growers, while ‘Arianna’ and ‘Federica’ are confirmed to be more beneficial to human health due to the higher concentration of various phytochemicals considered.
Publication
Authors
J. Milivojević, D. Radivojević, D. Milosavljević, V. Maksimović, S. Spasojević, J. Dragiić Maksimović
Keywords
strawberry, cultivar, ripening time, plant growth, productivity, biometrical and nutritional traits
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