Genotype x environment interaction for planting date and plant density effects on yield characters of strawberry

Abstract

SummaryThree strawberry cultivars (Camarosa, Carisma and Andana) were grown during 1997 and 1998 seasons, at two locations (Cartaya and Moguer) within the area of Huelva (Spain). Three planting dates (11, 21 and 31 October) and three plant densities: low (35.3.25.cm; 50,793 plants ha±1), medium (30.3.25.cm; 59,259 plants ha±1) and high (25.3.25.cm; 71,111 plants ha±1), were evaluated. Environment, genotypic and genotype-environment (G3E) interaction effects were significant in all characters. The Genotype 3 Planting Date (G3PD) interaction was a significant source of variation for all characters except for average fruit weight (AFW). The other interaction factors were not significant for any character. The G3E and G3PD were studied with the additive main effects and multiplication interaction (AMMI) model. The genotypes evaluated responded positively to high plant densities with maximum yield early and late in the season. Therefore, increasing density of planting is an effective crop management strategy to increase the yield characters except AFW. The study of G3PD interaction revealed that an early planting date (planting on 11 October) would give the highest yields.