MALFORMATION OF STRAWBERRY FRUIT (FRAGARIA × ANANASSA) IN GLASSHOUSE PRODUCTION IN SPRING

In spring, strawberry production in glasshouses using heating leads to misshapen fruit.
Primary fruit are especially affected.
The cause of malformation is subject to speculation.
Insufficient pollination, reduced development of stamens, shortage of cold accumulation during winter, and forced growth by heating, have been implicated as possible causes.
Malformation of strawberry fruit was studied in glasshouse experiments.
Different cultivation systems were applied to influence generative growth.
Assimilation of autumn and/or spring light, limitation of nitrogen supply
during autumn production, removal of the second truss in autumn, and absence of
cyclic lighting in spring, were investigated.
At different intervals, plant samples were taken and analysed microscopically.
Limitation of nitrogen supply in autumn resulted in fewer malformed fruit in spring, but resulted in severe yield loss.
Application of
assimilation light in autumn and/or spring had no significant influence on the percentage of malformed fruit, but increased total yield.
Removal of the second truss and
absence of cyclic lighting in spring increased the percentage of malformed fruit.
The relation between flower initiation and abnormal growth of fruit remained unclear, and is a subject for further studies.

V International Strawberry Symposium

G. van Kruistum, G. Blom, B. Meurs, B. Evenhuis

Flower development, assimilation light, nitrogen supply, forced growth, cyclic lighting, truss removal, misshapen fruits

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2006.708.73