Response of Strawberry Plants to Some Growth Regulators

Abstract

This experiment was carried out during 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 seasons at the Experimental Farm of the Strawberry and Non Traditional Crops Improvement Center at El-Nubaria, Behira Governorate. This work aimed to study the effect of ethrel {ethephon} (50, 100, 250 ppm), GA3 (10, 30, 50 ppm) and uniconazole (10, 15, 20 ppm) on strawberry plant growth characters (plant, leaf petiole and crown length, leaf area and plant dry matter %), chemical contents of the plants, number of flowers and fruits, monthly yield, total yield and fruit quality (fruit weight, TSS, total sugars and ascorbic acid content). The results indicated that GA3 application increased plant, petiole and crown length as well as plant dry matter % in most treatments. Growth regulators did not reflect significant differences concerning leaf area as compared to the control in most cases. GA3, ethrel and uniconazole increased total carbohydrate percentage in the foliage of strawberry plants while they did not affect nitrogen content. GA3 at 10 ppm or ethrel at 250 ppm increased number of flowers and fruits as well as the monthly and total yield. TSS was not affected by growth regulators, while untreated plants recorded the highest values of average fruit weight, total sugars and ascorbic acid content.