Cultivar Differences in Tolerance to Damage by Rainfall

Rain Damage on Three Strawberry Cultivars Grown in Subtropical Queensland

“…y Numbers in parentheses indicate percent of total fruit. (Herrington et al, 2009). "Etch" type is where the surface of fruit is eroded and, consequently, the seeds are raised relative to the damaged surface; "desiccated seed" is where the fruit tissue immediately around a seed appears degraded and dry but the remaining fruit surface is intact; star-cracks are longitudinal cracks in fruit flesh; ring-cracks are transverse cracks in fruit flesh.…”

“…y Numbers in parentheses indicate percent of total damaged fruit. (Herrington et al, 2009) from a commercial field were separated according to location of the damage. Previous harvest occurred 4 days, 3 days, and 3 days earlier for 'Strawberry Festival', 'Rubygem', and 'Camarosa', respectively.…”

“…The following terms were developed to describe the different types of rain damage and the primary location of damage on the fruit: "Etch," the surface of fruit is eroded and consequently the seeds are raised relative to the damaged surface; "water-soak," fruit tissue takes on a translucent "water soaked" appearance; "desiccated seed," the fruit tissue immediately around a seed appears degraded and dry but the remaining fruit surface is intact; "star-crack," longitudinal cracks in fruit flesh; "ring-crack," transverse cracks in fruit flesh; and "body-crack," oblique cracks in fruit flesh (Herrington et al, 2009) (Fig. 1).…”

“…The consequences of rain damage in strawberries can include: reduced marketable yield, increased harvesting, grading and packing costs, coupled with reduced consumer demand and, consequently, lower prices (Herrington et al, 2009). Rain damage may include water soaking, surface etching (i.e., where the surface of fruit is eroded and, consequently, the seeds are raised relative to the damaged surface), and cracking, in three general locations on the fruit-stem end (neck, shoulder), body, and tip (Herrington et al, 2009).…”

“…Rain damage may include water soaking, surface etching (i.e., where the surface of fruit is eroded and, consequently, the seeds are raised relative to the damaged surface), and cracking, in three general locations on the fruit-stem end (neck, shoulder), body, and tip (Herrington et al, 2009). However, a better understanding of the type and extent of rain damage and its variation among cultivars would provide information helpful in choosing options for evaluation and selection of protective techniques, including breeding resistant genotypes.…”