Prohexadione-calcium decreases fall runners and advances branch crowns of 'Chandler' strawberry in a cold-climate annual production system

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science

Volume

129

Issue

4

Publication Date

2-1-2004

First Page

479

Last Page

485

Abstract

Balancing vegetative growth with fruiting is a primary concern in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) production. Where nursery plant selection and preconditioning are inadequate for runner control, additional approaches are needed. The gibberellin inhibitor prohexadione-Ca was tested over two seasons for suppressing autumn runners of 'Chandler' plug plants in a cold-climate annual hill production system. Prohexadione-Ca was applied as a foliar spray at active ingredient concentrations ranging from 60 to 480 mg per liter, either as a single application or repeated at 3-week intervals. The lowest rate resulted in inadequate runner control, with some runners producing malformed daughter plants. Higher rates resulted in 57 to 93% reductions in fall runner numbers, with a concomitant increase in autumn branch crown formation. There were no effects of the prohexadione-Ca treatments on plant morphology the following spring, and no adverse effects on fruit characteristics or yield.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS