Partners and International Organizations
(English)
|
A, B, BG, DK, FIN, F, D, GR, H, IRL, I, LT, NL, N, PL, P, RO, SK, E, S, CH, TR, GB
|
Abstract
(English)
|
The regulation of flower formation may allow for alternative strategies in strawberry production to make it more competitive and market-oriented. Various practical approaches have been tested so far as part of this project. One strategy is the production of strawberries to supply markets at a time when strawberry prices are high. Such a scaled production aimed at harvests at a specific moment of the season may be achieved by scaling the plantation of strawberry plantlets to the field at the appropriate moment. Flower buds are formed before the plantlets are transplanted. The potential yield and fruit quality may be influenced by influencing the quality of transplants that are used. During 2002, various planting materials have been tested for their contribution to a better fruit yield and quality. So-called tray-A+ plantlets of cvs. Elsanta and Darselect were compared in a field experiment with the commonly used A+-frigo- and A++-frigo-plantlets (rhizomes stored during winter at low temperature). The plantlets were raised under controlled conditions. Frigo plantlets (stored from December to April at -2°C) were planted at April 30, 2002 (5 plantlets/m). The tray plantlets were trayed in July and maintained at high humidity on white plastic sheets. During winter, they were stored like frigo-plantlets. Harvest started on June 19 and ended on July 10. Tray plants yielded 3 times higher (up to 300g per plant) than frigo plants and had higher fruit weights. Plantlets with a higher flower bud density however (A++) did not exhibit significant differences to A+ plants, indicating a higher stress sensitivity of A++ plants (high temperatures during June/July) as compared to A+ plants. Higher quality and stress tolerance of cv. Darselect was observed in comparison with cv. Elsanta, even if it exhibited lower flower bud density. Increasing the substrate volume of tray plants increased the per plant yield of first quality fruit by 258 g. The late yield of Darselect was lower as compared to Elsanta, but quality and yield stability were better in the following main cropping season. Yield potential of tray plantlets may be increased by advancing the nursery transplant date until June. Despite the advantage of the tray plants, they may be an alternative to frigo plants only in some specific situations, when infrastructure for nursery and storage allow for economical advantages of this production technology.
|
