Abstract
ABSTRACT Strawberry is a crop of great economic and social importance. Its fruits are appreciated both for their flavor and nutraceutical potential. Some studies confirm that light quality influences plant physiology. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate if changes in light spectrum, provided by low tunnels, can improve vegetative traits, as well as, production and fruit quality of strawberry. The authors used six tunnel covers (red, yellow, blue, green, transparent and opaque and one control, without cover), and two cultivars: a short photoperiod cultivar (Camarosa) and a neutral photoperiod cultivar (Albion). Experiment was evaluated in two seasons: production and plant development first; and then, post-harvest quality. Overall, Camarosa showed higher vegetative growth, lower production, and better fruit quality than Albion. Due to the complexity of physiological and biochemical responses, each trait evaluated showed a specific response to light changes. The red, blue, yellow and green covers did not show any significant improvement comparing with transparent and opaque covers. Thus, the authors suggest the use of the latter ones which have already been used commercially.
Highlights
O morangueiro é uma cultura de grande importância econômica e social
Some studies have confirmed the influence of the light quality on plant physiology (Casierra-Posada et al, 2011; CasierraPosada & Peña-Olmos, 2015), being able to generate improvements like greater production and quality of fruits, due mainly to phytomorphogenic responses of phytochromes (CasierraPosada et al, 2011, 2012)
The authors aimed to evaluate the effect of different colored covers, in low tunnels, on vegetative growth, production and fruit quality traits of two strawberry cultivars
Summary
O morangueiro é uma cultura de grande importância econômica e social. Seus frutos são apreciados tanto pelo sabor como pelo potencial nutracêutico. Besides being the largest grower, the weather conditions in Minas Gerais allowed production of fruits with high ratio values, reflecting in fruits with quality higher than those produced in the South Region (Resende et al, 2010; Antunes et al, 2014; Pádua et al, 2015) In this sense, searching for alternative growing techniques which aim to improve the fruit quality in this region, maintaining good productivity, is necessary. Some studies have confirmed the influence of the light quality on plant physiology (Casierra-Posada et al, 2011; CasierraPosada & Peña-Olmos, 2015), being able to generate improvements like greater production and quality of fruits, due mainly to phytomorphogenic responses of phytochromes (CasierraPosada et al, 2011, 2012) This fact has been stimulating the use of different colored materials (shade nets and plastic films) to cover the plants, aiming to change the incident light. The authors aimed to evaluate the effect of different colored covers, in low tunnels, on vegetative growth, production and fruit quality traits of two strawberry cultivars
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