Effect of Temperature and Photoperiod Preconditioning on Flowering and Yield Performance of Three Everbearing Strawberry Cultivars

Abstract

Environmental control of flowering in everbearing strawberry is well known, while the optimal commercial raising conditions for high and continuous yield remains unsettled. We exposed freshly rooted plants of cultivars Altess, Favori and Murano to 9 °C, 15 °C, 21 °C and 27 °C, respectively, at two photoperiods for 4 weeks, and assessed flowering and yield performance. Long days at 15–21 °C enhanced flowering, while short days (SD), particularly at 27 °C, decreased flowering. Runner formation was enhanced by SD, being inversely related to flowering. Yields the next season were highest in plants exposed to 15–21 °C, whereas the seasonal harvest distribution varied. In concurrence with earlier reports, the size of the first fruit flush determined the magnitude of the second flush and the length of the off period when little fruit was produced. The large first fruiting flushes of plants exposed to 21 and 27 °C gave particularly long off periods and small second flushes. Moderate first flushes of plants from intermediate temperatures also resulted in a more evenly distributed harvest and the largest yields. Developing flowers and fruits are strong sinks for photosynthates; therefore, the size of the first fruit flush must be compromised to optimize fruit yield and seasonal crop distribution.

Efficiency of Strawberry Cultivation under the Effect of Different Types of Plants in a Soilless System in the High-Altitude Regions of Southern Brazil

“…The interval between the 1st and 9th week, for presenting a high number of hours with temperature between 0 and 10 • C (Figure 2), was characterized by favourable conditions of partial dormancy and the stimulation of flowering. According to researchers, when strawberry plants are in temperature ranges from 0 to 5 • C, low vegetative development is observed, becoming partially dormant [16][17][18]. At temperatures between 6 and 10 • C, regardless of the photoperiod, the stimulation of floral induction and flowering is observed [19,20].…”

Variability in ‘Capri’ Everbearing Strawberry Quality during a Harvest Season

“…While June-bearing strawberry genotypes have been extensively studied, environmental regulations and the impact of environmental conditions on fruit quality and composition have been less studied in everbearing genotypes. Previous studies on everbearing strawberries [ 10 , 11 ] have mainly focused on flowering and yield performance under different environmental conditions, but there are few studies focusing on the changes in the fruit composition of everbearing strawberries [ 12 , 13 ].…”

Productive Performance and Fruit Quality of Short Days Italian Genetic-based Strawberry Cultivars and Genotypes in Southern Brazil

“…However, due to the country's edaphoclimatic diversity, the small number of available cultivars has been one of the main barriers to the development of the strawberry crop. National breeding programs are essential for encouraging the development and introduction of new cultivars developed in other countries [4,5]. A cultivar's climatic adaptation to a specific producing region is expressed through the interaction among genotype, environment, and genetic feature, which influences production, productivity, and fruit quality.…”

“…A cultivar's climatic adaptation to a specific producing region is expressed through the interaction among genotype, environment, and genetic feature, which influences production, productivity, and fruit quality. Thus, the responses of cultivars to fruit yield and quality are primarily determined by the interaction of two factors, photoperiod and temperature [4].…”