Initial Crown Diameter of Transplants Influences Marketable Yield Components of Two Strawberry Cultivars in Annual Hill Production System

Abstract

Influence of initial transplant size on yield components was investigated using two strawberry cultivars over a three-year period. Plants were sorted into three groups according to crown size each fall before transplanting. Fruits were harvested once a week over a ten-week period each year. There were marked differences between ‘Chandler’ and ‘Camarosa’ cultivars. Transplants of the ‘Chandler’ cultivar with larger crown diameters produced significantly greater early and total marketable yield than transplants with smaller crown diameters. Regression analysis of yield components against initial crown diameter revealed a positive relationship between total fruit numbers produced per plant and initial crown size for both cultivars. Total weight of marketable fruit produced per plant was positively associated with initial crown diameter of transplants. Relationships between initial crown diameter and early yield components were not as consistent among the two cultivars tested. Early yield components of ‘Chandler’ were all correlated to initial crown diameter of transplants. The size of the transplant did not influence early yield components of ‘Camarosa’ except for fruit size. There was a significant relationship between the postharvest dry weight of plants and initial crown diameter of transplants.