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Morpho-phenological and agronomic performance of strawberry cultivars with different photoperiodic flowering responses

ABSTRACT.

The adaptability of the strawberry is known; however, little is known about the morphological and agronomic performance of these runner plants when transplanted in the Southern Hemisphere. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether strawberry cultivars classified according to their flowering differ in morpho-phenology and agronomic performance. Six cultivars of strawberry were used, two of which were Short Day (SD), Camarosa and Camino Real, and four of which were Neutral Day (ND), Aromas, Albion, Monterey, and San Andreas. The cultivars were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four blocks. The research developed in two parts: one part as descriptive research (morphological performance and phenology) and the other part as explanatory research (morphology of the root system and the agronomic performance). In the descriptive research, the data about the strawberry cultivars were presented in a descriptive way. The data on morpho-agronomic performance (explanatory research) were submitted to analysis of variance and Tukey’s test at a 5% probability of error. It is inferred that there is variability among cultivars regardless of their classification in terms of flowering. In all cultivars, we observed a botanical structure called a hypsophyll that is not included in the morphological descriptors of the species.

Keywords:
precocity; descriptors; photoperiodic classification; hypsophyll; short days; neutral days

Introduction

Brazil is the second-largest producer of strawberries (Fragaria ananassa) in the world, and the main region where they are produced in the country is the south of Minas Gerais, where 90% of the production in that state is concentrated, with an annual production close to 85 thousand tons (Curi, Peche, Pio, Caproni, & Oliveira, 2016Curi, P. N., Peche, P. M., PIO, R., Caproni, C. M., & Oliveira, M. S. (2016). Relationship between production, nematodes and 'redness' in strawberries. Ciência Rural, 46(8), 1309-1315. DOI: 10.1590/0103-8478cr20150621
https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20150...
).

The runner plants used by the producers in the Brazilian subtropics are mainly developed in the Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia. This makes availability low at the time indicated for planting (beginning of autumn) and conditions the transplant timing on the delivery of the runner plants.

It has been observed that due to this irregularity, there are alterations in the culture cycle. These changes may be related to the development of the molt, which requires cold hours for the accumulation of carbon in the crown and for phase change (Tazzo, Fagherazzi, Lerin, Kretzschmar, & Rufato, 2015Tazzo, I. F., Fagherazzi, A. F., Lerin,S., Kretzschmar, A. A., & Rufato, L. (2015). Exigência térmica de duas seleções e quatro cultivares de morangueiro cultivado no planalto catarinense. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, 37(3), 550-558. DOI: 10.1590/0100-2945-097/14
https://doi.org/10.1590/0100-2945-097/14...
).

The characteristic high concentration of these reserves in the crown is directly related to the capacity of the vegetative buds to differentiate from reproductive buds. This is related to the specific genotype of the cultivars used, since those cultivated in the Southern Hemisphere are mainly those classified as Short Day (SD) and Neutral Day (ND). In the case of SD, they flower in a photoperiod of less than 14 hours of light (Shalit et al., 2009Shalit, A., Rozman, A., Goldshmidt, A., Alvarez, J. P., Bowman, J. L., Eshed, Y., & Lifschitz, E. (2009). The flowering hormone florigen functions as a general systemic regulator of growth and termination. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(20), 8392-8397. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0810810106
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0810810106...
), while those of ND begin to differentiate floral buds from the intrinsic stimulus of the cultivar (autonomous flowering route) or when several cycles of temperatures occur below 10ºC (Coubesier & Coupland, 2005Coubesier, L., Coupland, G. (2005). Photoperiodic flowering of Arabidopsis: integrating genetic and physiological approaches to characterization of the floral stimulus.Plant, Cell & Environment, 28 (1), p. 54-66. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3040.2005.01283.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3040.2005...
; Heide, Stavang, & Sønsteby, 2013Heide, O. M., Stavang, J. A., & Sønsteby, A. (2013). Physiology and genetics of flowering in cultivated and wild strawberries - a review. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 88(1), 1-18. DOI: 10.1080/14620316.2013.11512930
https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2013.11...
).

Understanding these factors is extremely important in determining the time of planting, flowering and beginning of harvest. This information is directly linked to the morpho-physiology of the species and may show the plant’s adaptability to developmental conditions. Many authors have described the strawberry plant, but few of these descriptions were based on the crop descriptors and when they were, the descriptions were in other contexts (Massetani, Gangatharan, & Neri, 2011Massetani, F., Gangatharan, R., & Neri, D. (2011). Plant architecture of strawberry in relation to abiotic stress, nutrient application and type of propagation system. Genes, Genome and Genomics, 5(Special Issue 1), 1-12.). To understand how this species grows and develops, it is important to know its morphology in its cultivation habitat, since it is known for its great adaptability to the growing environment and growing conditions (Akhatou, González-Domíngueza, & Fernández-Recamalesa, 2016Akhatou, I., González-Domíngueza, R., & Fernández-Recamalesa, A. (2016). Investigation of the effect of genotype and agronomic conditions on metabolomics profiles of selected strawberry cultivars with different sensitivity to environmental stress. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 101, 14-22. DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.01.016
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.01...
). These data allow adjustment of crop management in relation to the system and the cropping site.

Based on this, the natural adaptability of the species is known, but little is known about the morpho-phenology and agronomic performance of these runner plants when transplanted at different times in the Southern Hemisphere.

Based on the above, it is necessary to clarify whether there is variability between strawberry cultivars classified on the basis of flowering regarding morpho-phenology and morpho-agronomic performance.

The hypothesis of the research is that strawberry cultivars with different paths to flowering are distinct in morpho-phenology and morpho-agronomic performance.

The objective of this research was to evaluate whether strawberry cultivars classified according to their flowering differ in their morpho-phenology and morpho-agronomic performance.

Material and methods

Material and location of the experiment

Six strawberry cultivars were used, two Short Day (SD), Camarosa and Camino Real and four Neutral Day (ND), Aromas, Albion, Monterey, and San Andreas. The runner plants were obtained from the Llahuen Nursery, located in Chilean Patagonia (33º50’15.41” S and 70º40’03.06” W).

The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse of 510 m² under a conventional cultivation system (soil) in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (28º15’39” S, 52° 24’33” W).

Treatments and experimental design

The cultivars consisted of the treatments, which were arranged in a randomized complete block design, with four replications. Each plot consisted of eight plants, totalling 32 plants per treatment.

Procedures

The experiment was conducted from May to October 2016. The cultivars were transplanted according to the availability of the nursery. Thus, there were three transplant dates: May 12th, 2016 Camarosa and Camino Real; July 6th, 2016 Monterey and Albion and June 21st, 2016 Aromas and San Andreas.

Soil samples were collected and chemical analysis was performed (Table 1).

Table 1
Result of soil chemical analysis.

The flowerbeds were approximately 15 m long by 1.0 m wide. Mulch was placed on the flowerbeds. The drop irrigation system was spaced every 0.30 m. After being received, the runner plants were submitted to measurement of the crown diameter to standardize them. Those that had diameters greater than 8 mm were considered for planting (Figure 1).

After standardization, the runner plants were transplanted at a spacing of 0.30 x 0.30 m. The fertigation solutions used were administered according to the needs of the crop and the phenological stage of the plants (Table 2).

Figure 1
Mean diameter of the crown of runner plants of strawberry cultivars.

Table 2
Concentration of macronutrients administered in the fertigation during the vegetative and fruiting phase of the strawberry.

Assessments

The study developed in two parts: one as descriptive research (performance of morpho-phenology) and another as explanatory research (morpho-agronomic performance).

Morpho-phenology Performance

To evaluate the aerial part morphology, the following characteristics were used, based on the morphological descriptors of the strawberry (UPOV, 2012UPOV. (2012). International union for the protection of new verieties of plants. Geneva, SW: UPOV.) for the analysis of the cultivars tested (Table 3).

Table 3
Characteristics of the strawberry cultivars according to the morphological descriptors (UPOV, 2012UPOV. (2012). International union for the protection of new verieties of plants. Geneva, SW: UPOV.).

In relation to the phenology, the evaluations consisted of observations and weekly records of the different stages of development between the stages that determine the first expanded leaf (E11) and most of the fruit with red coloration (E87), according to the BBCH coding (Biologishe Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and Chemical Industry) of the strawberry development phenological stages described by Meier (1994Meier, U., Graf, H., Hack, H., Hess, M., Kennel, W., Klose, R., ... Van den Boom, T. (1994). Phänologische Entwicklungsstadien des Kernobstes (Malus domstica Borkh. Und Pyrus communis L.) des Steinobstes (Prunus-Arten), der Johannisbeere (Ribes-Arten) und der Erdbeere (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.). Nachrichtenblatt des Deutschen Pflanzenschutzdienstes, 46, 141-153.).

During the experimental period, we determined the thermal sum. For this, a meteorological mini-station located inside the agricultural g reenhouse was used from which average air temperature data were extracted. The daily thermal time (DTT) was calculated according to Arnold (1960Arnold, C. Y. (1960). Maximum-Minimum temperature as a basis for computing heat units. Americam Society for Horticulture Science, 76(1), 682-692. ) using the following equation:

DTT = (ADT-BT) [°day-1](1)

where: ADT = average daily temperature and BT = base temperature.

The BT used was 7°C (Antunes et al., 2006Antunes, O. T., Calvete, E. O., Rocha, H. C., Nienow, A. A., Mariani, F., & Wesp, C. L. (2006). Floração, frutificação e maturação de frutos de morangueiro cultivados em ambiente protegido. Horticultura Brasileira, 24(4), 426-430, DOI: 10.1590/S0102-05362006000400006
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-0536200600...
). The DTT was accumulated from the transplant of the runner plants, resulting in the accumulated thermal time (ATT), that is,

ATT = DTT(2)

Morpho-agronomic performance

To evaluate the morphology of the root system, plant roots were collected at the end of the experiment for analysis using images from WinRHIZO® software coupled to a scanner. The readings were performed on four plants from each treatment. The evaluations included total root length (cm), surface area (cm²) and root volume (cm³). The roots were grouped by software in different diameter classes in relation to their total extension: very fine roots (VFR), with a diameter of 0.00 to 0.5 mm; fine roots (FR), with a diameter of 0.5 to 2 mm; and thick roots (TR), with a diameter greater than 2 mm (Böhm, 1979Böhm, W. (1979). Methods of studying root systems. Berlin, GE: Springer-Verlag.).

To determine the fruit yield of the first flowering, fruits were harvested when – of their epidermis was red (maturation), and the total fresh mass of the fruits (g) was evaluated.

Data analysis

The morpho-phenology data (descriptive research) on the aerial part of the strawberry cultivars were presented in a descriptive way. Data on morpho-agronomic performance (explanatory research) were submitted to analysis of variance, and the means were compared by the Tukey test at 5% error probability.

Results

Morpho-phenologic performance

For this study, we considered 18 morphological characteristics present in the descriptors of the species (Table 4). The cultivars classified as SD (Camarosa and Camino Real) presented only 5 common characteristics among them. For leaves, considering the edge of the terminal leaflet, both are crenate. Their bulging is classified as strong. When evaluating the fruits, the characteristic size was classified as large and the brightness was classified as strong. The colour of the pulp was classified as dark red for the two cultivars.

The cultivars of ND presented 3 common characteristics. The leaf stem colour was described as light green. For the fruit, the position of the achenes is located below the surface. All fruits present absent or small cavities.

In general, great variability was observed among all cultivars regardless of their photoperiodic classification.

In all cultivars studied, the presence of a botanical structure called a hypsophyll (Figure 2) was observed, which is not included in the morphological descriptors for this species.

Table 4
Characterization of strawberry cultivars according to the morphological descriptors.

Figure 2
Morphological aspect of the hypsophyll of strawberry cultivars studied. Cultivars: Albion (1), Aromas (2), Camarosa (3), Camino Real (4), Monterey (5), and San Andreas (6).

Because the hypsophyll does not appear in the descriptors and is not an official parameter, six characteristics of descriptors used to describe leaves were used for the characterization of the hypsophyll (Table 5), since the structure resembles a leaflet.

Table 5
Description of the hypsophyll in six strawberry cultivars.

The new structure described presented great variability among the cultivars independent of the photoperiodic classification of the studied cultivars. Those classified as ND had a single common characteristic, stem colour, all of which were classified as light green. The SD cultivars presented two common characteristics. For brightness, they were classified as weak, and for the anthocyanin pigmentation of stipules, classification was described as the mean.

Considering the phenology data, strawberry cultivars classified as ND, in general, were earlier to initiate flowering (mean of 48 days) (Figure 3).

Figure 3
Vegetative and reproductive cycle, according to the strawberry phenological stages scale, represented by Julian days according to the transplant dates of the runner plants. V.P. = Vegetative Phase, B.F. = Beginning Flowering, F.F. = Full Flowering, F./F.M. = Fruit Formation and Maturation.

The cultivars identified as the earliest of all studied were San Andreas (ND) and Camarosa (SD). Both required approximately 327.0°C day-1 (Figure 4) to start flowering. However, the cultivar San Andreas was transplanted 40 days after Camarosa, achieving the mentioned thermal sum in only 39 days. Camarosa took 55 days. Thus, San Andreas took less time to accumulate the same physiological time (degree days-1) than Camarosa.

Among the ND cultivars, the latest to start flowering was Monterey (63 days), with a longer vegetative phase (54 days) among the cultivars tested. Between the SD cultivars, the later was Camino Real (81 days). As a consequence of the precocity of its flowering, San Andreas began the process of fruit maturation in advance in comparison to the other cultivars (57 days after transplant), independent of the photoperiodic classification.

Figure 4
Cumulative thermal time and Julian days in the main vegetative and reproductive stages of strawberry. E11: first expanded sheet; E55: Early floral beginnings appear at the base of the rosette; E60: first open flower; E71: receptacle protruding from the crown of sepals; E87: most of the fruit with red coloration. Cultivars: Albion (1), Aromas (2), Camarosa (3), Camino Real (4), Monterey (5), and San Andreas (6).

Morpho-agronomic performance

In the deployment of fruit yield interaction (Figure 5), considering the strawberry cultivars within each harvest season, those that stood out were Camarosa (August, September and October) and Camino Real (October). However, for the harvesting periods of each cultivar, in general, it was observed that September and October were the months that recorded the best results of total fresh fruit mass in the present study. In August, at the start of production, lower values were recorded for most of the cultivars.

Figure 5
Interaction for strawberry fruit yield. Different letters on the columns, lowercase for month and uppercase for cultivar, differ statistically by the Tukey test at 5% probability of error.

The agronomic performance of fruits is directly related to the accumulated thermal sum (Figure 6). The SD cultivars Camarosa and Camino Real, although belonging to the same photoperiodic classification, showed different performance mainly in relation to the vegetative phase. Camino Real started flowering later requiring accumulation of a greater thermal sum to reach the beginning of flowering.

Figure 6
Relation between the total fresh fruit mass (g) of the first inflorescence accumulated in three months of cultivation and the accumulated thermal sum.

Discussion

Morpho-phenologic performance

The cultivars of strawberry, classified on the basis of their flowering, presented differences in morpho-phenology and agronomic performance. This indicates that even in cultivars with the same photoperiodic classification, there is variability among cultivars regardless of their classification.

The morphological distinctions between cultivars with the same photoperiodic classification in their morphological descriptors (Stewart & Folta, 2010Stewart, P. J., & Folta, K. M. (2010). A review of photoperiodic flowering research in strawberry (Fragaria spp.). Critical Reviews in Plant Science, 29(1), 1-13. DOI: 10.1080/07352680903436259
https://doi.org/10.1080/0735268090343625...
; Durner, 2015Durner, E. F. (2015). Photoperiod affects floral ontogeny in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) plug plants. Scientia Horticulturae, 194, 154-159, DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2015.08.006
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2015.0...
) showed the close relationship between the genotypes of each cultivar, as each cultivar has a genetically heterogeneous structure, resulting in high genetic variability among different cultivars (Conti, Minami, & Tavares, 2002Conti, J. H., Minami, K., & Tavares, F. C. A. (2002). Comparação de caracteres morfológicos e agronômicos com moleculares em morangueiros cultivados no Brasil. Horticultura Brasileira, 20(3), 419-423.).

The structure observed and described for the first time in the strawberry plant has already been called a bract by some authors (Aguiar, 2013Aguiar, C. (2013). Botânica para ciências agrárias e do ambiente: Morfologia e funções. Bragança, PO: Instituto Politécnico de Bragança.), but it is denominated botanically as a hypsophyll, a foliaceous organ located in the terminal portion of the stem floral zone and distinguished from normal leaves by colour, size, shape and other features (Castroviejo, Talavera, Aedo, Zarco, & Salgueiro, 1999Castroviejo, S., Talavera, S., Aedo, C., Zarco, C. R., & Salgueiro, F. J. (1999). Flora iberica: plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares (7a. ed.). Madrid, ES: Real Jardín Botánico.). We emphasize that our research group has already developed research identifying and describing the hypsophyll for the strawberry cultivars Albion (ND) and Camarosa (SD) (article in process in scientific journal). However, these cultivars were maintained in this study because other evaluations were performed due to the research objective. In addition, for the other cultivars (Aromas, Camino Real, Monterey, San Andreas), the identification and description of the hypsophyll are unpublished.

The correct designation and inclusion of this structure in the morphological descriptors of the strawberry plant is suggested because its presence is confirmed in all cultivars used in the study, due to the structure’s variability among the studied cultivars and due to its possible importance in the protection of flower buds and inflorescences (Ferri, 1999Ferri, M. G. (1999). Botânica: morfologia interna das plantas (anatomia) (9a. ed.). São Paulo, SP: Nobel.), which is the function assigned to this structure in the other species that present this structure. The function may be the same for the strawberry plant, as it was observed that a hypsophyll was present for each developed inflorescence.

In strawberry phenology, the explanation for the fact that the ND cultivars fruited earlier was the availability of the runner plants, since the ND cultivars were supplied later by the nursery. The runner plants of these cultivars had more time to accumulate reserves in the crown when they were still in the nursery and, soon after transplant, these reserves were quickly mobilized for leaf growth since these cultivars bloom autonomously, necessitating a certain number of leaves for the liberation of florigen (a flowering hormone) in the phloem, which is transported to the regions of the stem apex and which determines the differentiation of the vegetative buds from the flower buds (Heide et al., 2013Heide, O. M., Stavang, J. A., & Sønsteby, A. (2013). Physiology and genetics of flowering in cultivated and wild strawberries - a review. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 88(1), 1-18. DOI: 10.1080/14620316.2013.11512930
https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2013.11...
, Taiz, Zeiger, Moller, & Murphy, 2017Taiz, L., Zeiger, E., Moller, I. M., & Murphy, A. (2017). Fisiologia e desenvolvimento vegetal (6a. ed.). Porto Alegre, RS: Artmed.). It should be noted that for these cultivars (ND), larger crown diameters (12.75 mm) were observed (Figure 1) when the runner plants were received. This indicates that the larger the diameter of the crown of the plants, the greater the amount of reserves are accumulated, allowing early development (Costa et al., 2018Costa, R. C., Calvete, E. O., De Nardi, F. S., Pedersen, A. C., Chiomento, J. L. T.,& Trentin, N. S. (2018). Quality of strawberry seedlings can determine precocity. Australian Journal of Crop Science, 12(1), 81-86. DOI: 10.21475/ajcs.18.12.01.pne710
https://doi.org/10.21475/ajcs.18.12.01.p...
) and greater efficiency in the initial emission of leaves (Costa et al., 2018Costa, R. C., Calvete, E. O., De Nardi, F. S., Pedersen, A. C., Chiomento, J. L. T.,& Trentin, N. S. (2018). Quality of strawberry seedlings can determine precocity. Australian Journal of Crop Science, 12(1), 81-86. DOI: 10.21475/ajcs.18.12.01.pne710
https://doi.org/10.21475/ajcs.18.12.01.p...
).

Under the conditions of the Southern Hemisphere, with a subtropical climate, the ND cultivars are rarely stimulated to bloom through temperature conditions, as they require several cycles (14 to 21) with temperatures below 10°C (Sønsteby & Heide, 2007Sønsteby, A., & Heide, O. M. (2007). Long-day control of flowering in everbearing strawberries. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 82(6), 875- 884, DOI: 10.1080/14620316.2007.11512321
https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2007.11...
). Thus, the stimulus route to flowering under these conditions was autonomous (Heide et al., 2013Heide, O. M., Stavang, J. A., & Sønsteby, A. (2013). Physiology and genetics of flowering in cultivated and wild strawberries - a review. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 88(1), 1-18. DOI: 10.1080/14620316.2013.11512930
https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2013.11...
; Taiz et al., 2017Taiz, L., Zeiger, E., Moller, I. M., & Murphy, A. (2017). Fisiologia e desenvolvimento vegetal (6a. ed.). Porto Alegre, RS: Artmed.), unlike in SD cultivars, which flower based on the photoperiod.

The Monterey cultivar, which also had a large crown diameter, began flowering after the San Andreas cultivar, again evidencing the genotypic influence within cultivars of the same photoperiodic classification (Conti, 2002Conti, J. H., Minami, K., & Tavares, F. C. A. (2002). Comparação de caracteres morfológicos e agronômicos com moleculares em morangueiros cultivados no Brasil. Horticultura Brasileira, 20(3), 419-423.).

The Camarosa cultivar started flowering later. This was mainly due to the lower accumulation of reserves in the crown of the runner plants at the time of its supply (month of May) and due to the average temperature recorded from its transplant until the beginning of flowering, which was 12°C. It should be noted that during this period, 10 days occurred with average temperatures below 7°C. For the San Andreas cultivar, the average temperature from the time of transplant to the beginning of flowering was 15°C. Beyond the effect of temperature, this once again reinforces the stimulus carried out from reserves stored in the crown of the plant (Costa et al., 2018Costa, R. C., Calvete, E. O., De Nardi, F. S., Pedersen, A. C., Chiomento, J. L. T.,& Trentin, N. S. (2018). Quality of strawberry seedlings can determine precocity. Australian Journal of Crop Science, 12(1), 81-86. DOI: 10.21475/ajcs.18.12.01.pne710
https://doi.org/10.21475/ajcs.18.12.01.p...
).

Morpho-agronomic performance

Regarding the morphology of the root system, there was no distinction among cultivars. The result found in the present study may be related to the analyses that were performed in the month of October, at which time the roots would still be growing. Data different from those of the present study were found for agronomic performance in cultivars Camarosa and Camino Real, with peak production in November and December (Carvalho et al., 2013Carvalho, S. F. D., Ferreira, L. V., Picolotto, L., Corrêa Antunes, L. E., Flores, R. F., Amaral, P. A., & Barbosa Malgarim, M. (2013). Comportamento e qualidade de cultivares de morango (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) na região de Pelotas-Rio Grande do Sul. Revista Iberoamericana de Tecnología Postcosecha, 14(2),176-180.). In August, at the start of production, lower values were recorded for most cultivars. This result was also confirmed in another study (Antunes, Ristow, Krolow, Carpenedo, & Reisser Júnior, 2010Antunes, L. E. C., Ristow, N. C., Krolow, A. C. R., Carpenedo, S., & Reisser Junior, C. (2010). Yield and quality of strawberry cultivars. Horticultura Brasileira, 28(2), 222-226. DOI: 10.1590/S0102-05362010000200015
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-0536201000...
).

Agronomic performance was associated with the accumulated thermal sum. It is worth mentioning that this condition is linked to the beginning of production. Camino Real was late to start flowering in relation to Camarosa under the same conditions of accumulation of thermal sum. This shows different responses among the cultivars, even those that belong to the same photoperiodic classification. Camino Real showed lower production. The ND cultivars showed a more balanced production potential among them because, under the conditions of cultivation in the Southern Hemisphere, the beginning of flowering is an intrinsic factor to the cultivar. More specifically, ND cultivars are insensitive to photoperiod and the microclimatic conditions do not provide several cycles with temperatures below 10°C, which would trigger expression of the ND genotype (Sønsteby & Heide, 2007Sønsteby, A., & Heide, O. M. (2007). Long-day control of flowering in everbearing strawberries. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 82(6), 875- 884, DOI: 10.1080/14620316.2007.11512321
https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2007.11...
). In this case, the intrinsic factor is the determining factor for the emission of leaves because, in these cultivars, the emission of leaves is responsible for the signalling (liberation of florigen) for the beginning of the differentiation of the vegetative meristem in flower buds (Heide et al., 2013Heide, O. M., Stavang, J. A., & Sønsteby, A. (2013). Physiology and genetics of flowering in cultivated and wild strawberries - a review. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 88(1), 1-18. DOI: 10.1080/14620316.2013.11512930
https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2013.11...
, Taiz et al., 2017Taiz, L., Zeiger, E., Moller, I. M., & Murphy, A. (2017). Fisiologia e desenvolvimento vegetal (6a. ed.). Porto Alegre, RS: Artmed.). If this process starts early, early flowering is the consequence.

Conclusion

There is variability among cultivars independent of their flowering classification. Albion, Camarosa and San Andreas are more precocious and have greater production potential. Camino Real, Monterey, and Aromas are cultivars suitable for regions with a tropical climate with higher average temperatures, which will benefit the shortening of the vegetative period. In all cultivars, a botanical structure called a hypsophyll is observed that is not included in the morphological descriptors of the species. It is inferred that this structure in the strawberry plant protects floral buds, as in other species.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the University of Passo Fundo. This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001.

References

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    11 Sept 2020
  • Date of issue
    2021

History

  • Received
    01 Nov 2018
  • Accepted
    01 Oct 2019
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