The strawberry production is seasonal, and the best fruit prices are obtained during the off season. Seeking to get fruits off season, this research was aimed at evaluating the effect of the seedling vernalization of five strawberry cultivars. The strawberry seedling were produced in suspended pot system. The experimental design was is completely randomized blocks with the factorial design 5x2x4, with five strawberry cultivars (IAC-Campinas, Dover, Sweet Charlie, Cartuno and Oso Grande), two treatments (with and without strawberry runners vernalization) and four times. For vernalization, the strawberry seedling was taken to cold chamber at 10±2°C, and photoperiod of 8h of light day-1 for 28 days, after this they were transplanted. The parameters evaluation were survival percentages, flower blooming, fructification, stolons emission, the weight and the number of fruits produced. The strawberry seedling survival was not affected by the vernalization. The results showed statistic differences among this treatments only on flower appearance and fructification of the vernalized plants. The runner emitions were earlier in the vernalized seedlings. For all strawberry cultivars and treatments the production of fruits was very low and the produced fruits were unsuitable for commercialization.
Fragaria x ananassa Duch.; runners production; chilling requeriment
