Site effects on the main active and putative health-promoting compounds of strawberry were investigated using 5 strawberry genotypes. The plants were grown at three locations in Italy (Verona and Cesena in the North and Scanzano Jonico in the South) of differing latitude, environmental conditions (temperature) and crop management practices (planting date, plant type, harvest duration, yield per plant and per day) influencing fruits quality traits. At each site, fruits for analysis were picked at mid harvest (50% of total estimated yield) during the peak April-May marketing season, a mid-harvest window when consumers can choose fruits from both northern and southern districts. Yield per plant and fruits total soluble solids, titratable acidity, flesh firmness, skin colour, antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid, total phenols, total anthocyanins and phenolic compounds were determined. Genotype × site × climatic factors and cultivation technique interaction significantly affected yield per plant and almost all fruits quality traits. Given the longer harvest period and, hence, lower yield per day in the South, the fruits of this site were sweeter and of higher ascorbic acid and anthocyanin contents than that grown at the two North sites; the Verona fruits registered the highest acidity and antioxidant capacity. Fruits size and colour were unaffected by site. Soluble solids and ascorbic acid were negatively correlated to plant yield per day. A significant negative correlation between total antioxidant capacity, total polyphenols and fruits size was found. The main anthocyanin (pelargonidin-3-glucoside) was correlated to both total anthocyanin and total antioxidant capacity. Our overall data show that site-specific environmental conditions, especially in regard to the length of the climate-induced harvest window, and crop management practices affected fruits quality traits.

Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa D.) yield is affected by vigor of transplants. Those young and vigorous at planting lead to plants reaching higher vegetative growth and fruit yield than weak or old ones. This study aimed at determining plant growth, development, and fruit yield of the strawberry plant from bare root and plug transplants with different crown diameters. Bare root transplants were produced by rooting stolons and plug transplants from runner tips collected and rooted in a substrate growing bed. Three classes of crown diameters were compared in a 2 × 3 factorial and randomized block experimental design, with four replications, 16 plants per plot and a density of 6.6 plants m -2 . For bare root transplants, crown diameters were between 3.0 and 5.0 mm (class 1); 5.1 and 8.0 mm (class 2) and greater than 8.1 mm (class 3). For plug transplants, runner tips were screened between 2.0 and 3.9 mm (class 1); 4.0 and 5.5 mm (class 2) and 5.6 to 7.0 mm (class 3). Transplants of both types were planted at April 16 th , 2008, and at this date, crown diameter, shoot and root dry mass and number of leaves were higher in all classes of plug transplants. Ripe fruits were harvested from June 15 th to November 7 th , 2008, and fresh fruit yield was determined. Plant growth and development were determined at last harvest. Higher growth, development and fruit yield were obtained in plants from plug transplants. For bare root transplants, crown diameters higher than 5.1 mm can be used while for plug transplants the crown diameter of runner tips does not affect plant growth and fruit yield.

RESUMO Com o presente trabalho objetivou-se avaliar as características produtivas de diferentes genótipos de pessegueiro (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.), submetidos a podas em épocas distintas na região de Pelotas-RS. O experimento foi conduzido em uma área experimental pertencente à Embrapa

No abstract

-The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of crown diameter and growing period of runner tips in 128 cell-trays on growth and yield of strawberry in the field. Treatments consisted of three classes of runner tip crown diameters, between 2.0 to 3.9 mm; 4.0 to 5.5 mm and 5.6 to 7.0 mm, respectively, and four growing periods in trays, 24; 39; 54 and 69 days, respectively. Higher shoot dry mass of transplants at planting and earlier yield of plants in the field were obtained in transplants grown for 69 days in trays. Larger runner tips lead to more vigorous transplants at planting and plants with higher vegetative growth in the field, with minor impact on yield. Increasing the growing time of runner tips in trays improved early fruit yield and decreased plant vegetative growth in the field.Index terms: Fragaria x ananassa, early yield, propagation, plug plants. Desenvolvimento e produtividade do morangueiro influenciados pelo diâmetro da coroa e período de crescimento de mudasResumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência do diâmetro das pontas de estolão e do seu período de crescimento em bandejas sobre o crescimento da planta e produtividade do morangueiro Arazá. Os tratamentos consistiram em três classes de diâmetro das pontas de estolão: entre 2,0 e 3,9 mm; 4,0 e 5,5 mm e 5,6 e 7,0 mm, e quatro períodos de crescimento nas bandejas: 24; 39; 54 e 69 dias. Maior massa seca vegetativa das mudas no plantio e maior produção precoce das plantas foram obtidas com mudas que cresceram 69 dias nas bandejas. Pontas de estolão de maior diâmetro originaram mudas mais vigorosas no plantio e plantas com maior crescimento vegetativo no campo, sem efeito na produtividade de frutas. O aumento do período de crescimento das mudas nas bandejas aumentou a produção precoce de frutas e diminuiu o crescimento vegetativo das plantas no campo.Termos para indexação: Fragaria x ananassa, precocidade, propagação, muda com torrão.