An Optimal Combination of the Propagation Medium and Fogging Duration Enhances the Survival, Rooting and Early Growth of Strawberry Daughter Plants

Hao Wei,Byoung Ryong Jeong,Chen Liu

doi:10.3390/agronomy10040557

Abstract

Runner propagation is an important process in strawberry cultivation, which influences plant survival and fruit yield during the commercial production. In South Korea, this process is carried out on plug tray benches that are set off the ground in greenhouses, rather than in open fields. During the propagation, the propagation media and fogging systems play an important role in the survival and rooting of daughter plants. The aim of this study is to investigate the influences of the different types of propagation media and various fogging treatments on the rooting and early growth of strawberry daughter plants. Two strawberry cultivars—‘Maehyang’ and ‘Seolhyang’—in a glasshouse, grown in four different propagation media-a peat moss-based mixture (PBM), rockwool cube (RWC), granular rockwool (GRW), and a coir-based mixture (CBM)—combined with five fogging durations, 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 days were tested. PBM with 9–12 days of fogging was the most ideal combination for the rooting and early growth of daughter plants of the two strawberry cultivars, which increased the ratio of survival and rooting, number of new leaves, root length and maximised the fresh and dry weights of the aboveground and belowground runner biomass. However, fogging treatments shorter than 9 days led to a lower survival rate and rooting. RWC and GRW are not recommended for young plants of these two strawberry cultivars because their strong water-retentive properties could subject the root to water stress, which can lead to root rotting. The purpose of this study is to provide a reference for strawberry growers to improve the quality of plants and efficiency of production during the propagation period.

Highlights

In South Korea, strawberry production has reached to 208,699 tons in 2017
Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) is a hybrid species that propagates by either seeds, or vegetatively by runners that produce daughter plants that are identical to the mother plant
Neither the propagation medium nor the cultivars affected the survival, but fogging duration significantly affected the survival of plants

Summary

Introduction

In South Korea, strawberry production has reached to 208,699 tons in 2017. The total area of production is about 6435 hectares, 6290 of which were protected cultivation, while only 145 hectares were field cultivation. Almost all strawberries are propagated with plugs in South Korea [1]. With the fast development of the strawberry industry, strawberry propagation has become an integral part of the strawberry production process. Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) is a hybrid species that propagates by either seeds, or vegetatively by runners that produce daughter plants that are identical to the mother plant. Most strawberries are propagated asexually in the Korean strawberry industry to maintain the true characteristics of the cultivar [2]. Cutting propagation is an efficient method for producing strawberry daughter plants of uniform sizes.

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