WINTER SURVIVAL OF STRAWBERRY AS AFFECTED BY THE TYPE OF PLANTING MATERIAL

Winter injury is presumably one of the reasons for the recent reduction in strawberry yields in Finland.
Growers have been concerned about the possible effect of planting material on winter survival of strawberry.
In this study, overwintering of three different types of strawberry planting material (cultivars Senga Sengana and Jonsok) was tested in the field; 1) certified virus free elite plants from tissue culture, 2) certified plants (runner plants from elite plants), and 3) ordinary plants (runner plants from a strawberry farm). A special ‘double pot’ method was developed and used in plantings established in June to be able to lift the plants for the controlled freezing tests three times during the winter.
Additionally, winter survival was evaluated in the field during flowering.
In controlled freezing tests, strawberry crowns survived -8°C without injury, suffered minor injury at -10°C and severe injury at -12°C. No consistent differences in cold hardiness between the plant types were detected during the winter.
Field evaluation did not reveal any differences in their winter survival, either.

IV International Strawberry Symposium

P. Palonen, L. Lindén

cold hardiness, Fragaria x ananassa, freezing test

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.567.70