Temprate Fruits (1+1)

CULTURAL PRACTICES

Weed control:-

• Weed control is one of the most serious and expensive management practices in strawberry. The weeds pose a great problem and sometimes become unmanageable specially during rainy season.
• Both chemical and hand weeding is used to control the weeds.
• Application of venzar (lenacil) at 1.5-2.0 kg/ha as pre-planting gives good control of weeds.
• Use of mulches also help in controlling the weeds in strawberry plantations.
• Hand weeding should be done at regular intervals to keep field free from the weeds.

Flowering:-

• Flowering is controlled by photoperiod. Increasing the light intensity in greenhouse- forcing cvs, reduced time of flowering, increased number of inflorescence and fruit set.
• The everbearing cvs (Ozark Beauty, Geneva, Superfaction) initiate and produce flowers throughout the growing season.
• Day neutral strawberry (Tribute, Brighton, Hecker ) have gained popularity in different geographical regions.
• Strawberry production may be limited by low temperature during autumn, winter or spring in many temperate regions. Low temperature during bloom, and in the fall and winter can destroy the flowers and buds.
• Flowering in short day cvs. can be induced in long days so long as the temperature is sufficiently low.
• Some cvs have specific temperature requirement for flower bud initiation
• Purner et al. (1984) studied the effects of photoperiods and temperature on day neutral, June bearer ( Red chief and Guardian) and everbearer ( Qurown and Ozark Beauty) strawberries, They were grown at constant temperature 21 oC 16 hour long days (LD) 9 hours short days (SD) or 9 hour with the dark period interrupted (NI) by 3 hours of low level incandescent radiation. Flowering in day neutral was unaffected by photoperiod, in June bearing flowering was inhibited with NI and LD compared with SD, flowering of ever bearer was promoted by LD compared with SD.

Pollination:-

• Most cultivars produced hermaphrodite flowers. However, imperfect, pistillate and strictly female cvs require cross pollination.
• The anthers open at the sides, sometimes under tension so that pollen is transferred onto pistils.
• Pollens are initially heavy and sticky but later become dry and are carried by wind. However, bees and flies are important agents in strawberry pollination.
• Incomplete pollination results in developing irregular and poorly shaped berries.
• Placement of 2 honeybees hives /hectare is recommended for effective pollination and good fruit set..

Harvesting:-

• Fruits are usually harvested when half to three quarters of skin develops colour.
• A delay in picking increases the percentage of overripe and rotten berries.
• It is conventional practice to harvest the strawberries every third day..

Pests and diseases

Pests:-
(i) Red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae):-

• They are red in colour, present on the under side of the leaves.
• They are controlled with the spray of Chlorpyriphos (1ml/L) and acracide like dienochlor and amitraz.

(ii) Leaf roller :-

• Eiphyas postvitlana and Ctenopsenstis obliquana are common leaf roller, affecting strawberries.
• The cater pillars fold the leaves across the midrib.
• Two sprays of endosulfan (1ml/L) in August September controls the pest.

Diseases:-
Gray mold: (Botrytis cinerea)

• Light brown soft spot appear on fruits, the berries dry out and covered by a dusty fungus growth.