Evaluation of Low Chilling Strawberry (Fragraria ananassa) Varieties with Respect to Yield and Quality in Eastern Nepal

Abstract

The experiment entitled “Evaluation of low chilling strawberry (Fragraria ananassa) varieties with respect to yield and quality in eastern Nepal” was conducted in Dharan and Biratnagar of Nepal with five varieties ‘EMCO 33’, ‘EMCO 32’, ‘Florida Fortuna’, ‘Florida Beauty’ and ‘Sweet Sensation’. The experiment was laid out in Factorial RCBD where variety and location were considered as factors. From the experiment, the highest number of fruits per plant (13.22) and maximum fruit set (95.72%) were recorded with the variety ‘EMCO 33’. However, the maximum number of fruits per plot (444.25) with only 14.04 % of unmarketable fruit and the highest yield of 9068.75 grams per plot with 7976.00 grams of marketable yield per plot was obtained with variety ‘EMCO 32’ in Dharan. Comparing the length and diameter of fruit variety ‘EMCO 32’ (49.00 cm×43.42 cm) and variety ‘EMCO 33’ (49.04 cm×38.41 cm) seems more appealing in form. pH, vitamin C, and TA content were found higher in variety ‘EMCO 33’ (3.48, 71.89 mg/g, and 0.90 % respectively) and higher TSS content (6.57 0 Brix) was obtained with variety ‘EMCO 32’ with no interaction effect for quality traits. Thus among treatment combinations variety ‘EMCO 32’ followed by ‘EMCO 33’ in Dharan conditions is preferable to other treatments and also both the varieties perform well compared to other varieties in Biratnagar conditions also. However, still more studies are required to assess the varietal performance and it would be premature to recommend a suitable variety for given locations.