Fruit yield of strawberry stock plants after of runner tips production

Abstract

The main objective of this research was to determine fruit yield of strawberry ( Fragaria x ananassa D.) stock plants in a cropping system after producing runner tips and plug plants. Micropropagated stock plants were planted on October 1 st , 2008, in a soilless growing system. Runner tips bearing at least one visible root nodule were harvested at 43, 66 and 87 days after planting, rooted and planted as multiplied stock plants to produce plug plants. On May 26 th , 2009, stock plants were defoliated and plug plants were planted as a control treatment for fruit production. Early fruit yield and number of fruits were higher on stock plants. It was concluded that in a soilless growing system, in the second cropping year after producing runner tips, strawberry stock plants can reach a higher early and total fresh fruit yield than plug transplants. Therefore, they should not be discarded after the production of runner tips.