STRESS SENSITIVITY IN FRUITING ‘ELSANTA’ STRAWBERRY PLANTS: ARE ROOTS INVOLVED?

Strawberry cv.
Elsanta was raised in hydroponic culture following cold storage of the crowns.
An analysis of dry matter partitioning into the fruit and root system was made over a 55-day period.
The root system was divided into two fractions, i.e. new roots (those that had developed since planting in hydroponic culture) and old roots (those already present at planting). In addition, an analysis of root sugars and amino acids was carried out.

During the first phase of rapid fruit development (day 27 to 34) there was a reduction in total root dry matter which was accounted for by old roots.
New roots ceased growing during this phase.
The growth cessation appeared to be due to a decline in root sugar content.
The amino acid content of both root fractions declined suggesting a reduced assimilative capacity of the root system for nitrogen.
The results suggest that the allocation of carbon (sugars) to the root system is of low priority and may be related to the stress sensitivity of ‘Elsanta’.

III International Strawberry Symposium

M.G. Guye, J.-P. Gaudillere, B. Hennion

Fragaria x ananassa, disorder

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1997.439.115