Anatomical investigations of the strawberry (Fragaria grandiflora Ehrh.) receptacle in the initial stages of development

Abstract

The anatomical changes occurring in the strawberry fruit in the course of its growth were investigated. Flowers or fruits were collected from the apexes of the inflorescence of plants of the cultivar 'Talisman' cultivated in the glasshouse under long day. A method was developed for embedding the receptacle in a mixture of paraffin, rubber and wax, because the classical paraffin method did not give good results. Three different vascular bundle systems were distinguished in the strawberry, supplying the particular parts of the flower. Most intensive growth of the mean number of cells occurs in the cortex. The number of pith cells, beginning with the 5th day after pollination does not practically increase. Neither does between the 5th and 10th day after pollination, the number of cortical cells increase in the apical part of the fruit.