INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

Taxonomical classification
1
Order = Rosales
Family = Rosaceae
Sub-family = Rosoideae
Genus = Fragaria
Species = ananassa
Basic chromosome = 7
Cultivated strawberry is octaploid having chromosome number 56

INTRODUCTION
  • The cultivated strawberry is one of the most important soft fruits of the world.
  • Fruit is technically known as an accessory fruit in that the fleshy part is derived not from the ovaries (achenes) but from receptacle.
  • It can be grown in different climate raging from temperate to tropical.
  • Strawberry is very nutritive fruit. It is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Strawberry fruit contains about 0.5% pectin. The flavor of the fruit is due to presence of volatile esters.
  • Most of the fruits are consumed fresh and some are processed into Jam, chutney, squash and other food stuffs.. It is used in large scale ice cream making. The fruits are canned and shipped in frozen conditions in western countries.
AREA AND PRODUCTION
  • Strawberry is a native of temperate regions, but varieties are available which can be grown in subtropical areas
  • The cultivated strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) was first tried in Europe in the early 18th century and represents the accidental cross of F. virginiana from eastern North-America, which was noted for its fine flavor and F. chiloensis from Chile and noted for its large size.
  • Strawberry industries in America was started in the beginning of 18th century, and today nearly 50% of worlds production is in Europe.
  • The strawberry is commercially grown on large scale in Europe and North America. Among the European countries, France, Italy, Poland and Spain are the major producers. The other countries having a sizable production of strawberries are Russia, Japan and Turkey.
  • The total world production of strawberry is 3822987 MT .
  • In India strawberry is commercially grown in plains mainly for fruits and in hills for raising planting material production. The major strawberry growing states in India are Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Maharshtra ( Mahabaleshwarm).
Morphological description

12.2 12.3
Plate 1. Strawberry plant
  • Strawberry is perennial herb, petiole mostly long and channled above, stipules adnate at the base of petiole.
  • Leaves 3-foliate, leaflets sharply denate, but entire at the more or less wedge shaped base.
  • Flowers polygamo-dioecious, rarely hermaphrodite, the male flowers larger, all 5-parted, central flower open first.
  • Calyx lobe form flat hypanthium, stamens about 20 or less, filament mostly shorter than receptacle, anthers oblong, receptacles roundish or conic bearing numerous pistils with lateral styles.
Varieties
  • Several varieties have been bred in different countries and evaluated under local condition. The varieties recommended for Indian conditions are : Chandler, Camarosa, Sweet Charlie, Ofran, Oso Grande, Gorella, Selva., Sanga Sangana, Belrubi, Shasta, Fern, Tioga and Pajaro

1.1

Plate 2. Chandler

Climate and Soil:-
  • Strawberry can be grown in all types of climate, but thrives best in temperate climate. It is grown in temperate to sub tropical areas.
  • Some cultivars ( Gorella, Chandler, Senga Sengana) are adapted to septentrional culture i.e. short days in autumn and hard winter, or to meridional conditions i.e. long days in autumn and moderate winter ( cv. Tioga).
  • The day neutral cultivars (Selva and Fern) can be grown all around the year.
  • Strawberry requires certain minimum amount of dark period (8 hours) for flower bud initiation, but better flowering and fruiting can be achieved if plants are chilled. Under normal conditions flowers are initiated in autumn.
  • A temperature of about 22-30oC is considered optimum for plant growth. In cold climates, frost damage and winter injury are major constrains for strawberry cultivation. Blossoms of most June bearing cvs are damaged at -2oC.
  • The optimum temperature for period between onset of flowering and onset of ripening should be 14 to 16oC.
  • Strawberry thrives best in light soil as heavy soil inhibits root growth and development.
  • Sandy loam soils rich in organic matter (4-5%) is best for strawberry cultivation.
  • Most of the roots found in the top 15-20 cm of soil, therefore it is essential that top layer of soil should be porous and rich in humus.
  • Strawberry is not very sensitive to soil reaction, yet it prefers a light acidic soils (pH 4.6 to 6.4).
Last modified: Tuesday, 26 June 2012, 9:41 PM