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Title: THE EFFECTS OF CONDITIONING STRAWBERRY PLUG PLANTS UNDER ALTERED RED/FAR RED LIGHT ENVIRONMENT ON SUBSEQUENT PERFORMANCE

Author
item Black, Brent
item SWARTZ, HARRY - U. MD
item DEITZER, GERALD - U. MD
item BUTLER, BRYAN - U. MD
item CHANDLER, CRAIG - U. FLORIDA

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/2005
Publication Date: 8/1/2005
Citation: Black, B.L., Swartz, H.J., Deitzer, G.F., Butler, B., Chandler, C.K. 2005. The effects of conditioning strawberry plug plants under altered red/far red light environment on subsequent performance. Acta Zoologica Hungarica. 40(5):1263-1267

Interpretive Summary: Preventing runner formation and promoting early flowering are essential to proper management of annual strawberry production systems. Some production of nursery plants has shifted to protected cultivation, providing opportunities to manipulate plants for improved early performance. Nursery plants were grown for four weeks under different light environments, transplanted to three different production systems and then evaluated for runner production and early flowering. Although a reduced red light environment showed initial promise, short-day treatments were more effective for reducing runnering, increasing branch crown formation, and promoting early flowering. This indicates that altering the light environment alone, is not sufficient for advancing fruiting of June-bearing strawberry. These results will be of benefit to researchers and growers looking for methods to improve nursery plant performance.

Technical Abstract: The effect of altered red/far red light environment on subsequent field performance of strawberry plug plants was tested over two seasons. Two wavelength-selective plastic films were compared to neutral shade and full-sun control for conditioning 'Chandler' strawberry plug plants prior to transplanting to a winter production system. The following year, plug plants of 'Chandler', 'Sweet Charlie' and 'Allstar' were conditioned under the same treatments, with the addition of a continuous incandescent light and a short-day photoperiod. During the first year, the red light-filtering film slightly advanced flowering. During the second season however, the short-day treatment resulted in a greater reduction in runnering and increased early crown and flower development. For June-bearing strawberry plants maintained above 20'C, altering the red/far red environment did not consistently advance flowering.