VEGETATIVE AND FLORAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SIX STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS ASSOCIATED WITH FRUIT SIZE, YIELD AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO TARNISHED PLANT BUG INJURY

Strawberry cultivars can differ in their susceptibility to tarnished plant bug injury, but the mechanisms for such differences have not been determined. Isolating such mechanisms could allow breeders to develop significant insect resistance in commercial strawberry cultivars. Selected vegetative and floral characteristics were measured in six strawberry cultivars grown in a perennial matted row system and compared to the yield data and levels of tarnished plant bug injury. ‘Mira’ and ‘Mesabi’ had the highest marketable yields, followed by ‘Jewel’ and ‘Sable’. ‘Cabot’ and ‘Northeaster’ had the lowest yields. ‘Cabot’ had the largest fruit size, followed by ‘Jewel’, ‘Mira’, ‘Northeaster’, ‘Sable’ and ‘Mesabi’. Naturally occurring levels of tarnished plant bug injury were lower than expected, but some significant differences were observed among the six cultivars. ‘Mira’, ‘Northeaster’ and ‘Cabot’ had the highest levels of tarnished plant bug injury. ‘Jewel’, ‘Mesabi’ and ‘Sable’ had lower levels of injury. There was no significant correlation between yield and levels of tarnished plant bug injury, reflecting the low levels of injury in this experiment. Of the parameters evaluated, only high pollen levels were significantly correlated with higher levels of tarnished plant bug injury. Flower size, flower number, pedicel length, peduncle length and petiole lengths were not significantly correlated with injury.
Primary flower diameter and flower dry weight were positively correlated with average fruit weight.

XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Berry Crop Breeding, Production and Utilization for a New Century

D.T. Handley, J.F. Dill

Fragaria x ananassa Duch., Lygus lineolaris Say, malformation, resistance

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2003.626.21