Extended Supplementation of Nutrient Solution for Runner Plant Production Improved the Growth of Runner Plants and Enhanced the Reproduction Rate and Quality of ‘Maehyang’ Strawberry Fruits

• Published in: Weon'ye gwahag gi'sulji Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 42 - 53
• Main Authors: Kim, Hyeon Min, Lee, Hye Ri, Jeong, Hyeon Woo, Kim, Hye Min, Jeong, Byoung Ryong, Kang, Nam Jun, Hwang, Seung Jae
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 한국원예학회HST 01.02.2019; 한국원예학회
• Subjects: 농학; C/N ratio; budding ratio; flowering response; marketable fruit
• ISSN: 1226-8763; 2465-8588
• DOI: 10.12972/kjhst.20190005

This study aimed to investigate the optimum supply period of nutrient solution for the growth ofrunner plants as well as the flowering, fruit quality, and yield of ‘Maehyang’ strawberry. The runnerplants separated from the mother plants were divided into 5 groups, each receiving a supply periodtreatment of watering (W) and nutrient solution (N) [control (W40), combination of W and N: W20+ N20, W25 + N15, W30 + N10, and W35 + N5]. The EC and pH were 0.6 dS·m-1 and 6.5,respectively. The treated runner plants were transplanted to the strawberry growing pots filled witha commercial growing medium on September 13, 2017 and managed with EC 0.6 to 1.2 dS·m-1strawberry nutrient solution. Growth characteristics and mineral elements of the runner plants weremeasured at 40 days after treatment. The crown diameter, fresh weight of shoot, and the leaf areawere significantly higher in the W20 + N20 group. The P, Mg, S, and Fe contents in the runner plantleaves significantly increased in the W20 + N20 and the W25 + N15 groups. In addition, the C/Nratio was 7.81% higher in the W20 + N20 group than in groups that had received other treatments. The budding ratio and flowering of primary and secondary inflorescences in the W20 + N20 groupwere approximately 3 to 9 days faster compared to the control. The fruit characteristics, such asweight, length, diameter, firmness, soluble solids content, and acidity, were not significantlydifferent across the groups. The total number of fruits and marketable fruit yield showed positiveresults in the W20 + N20 group during the total harvest period. The results indicate that the supply periodof nutrient solution has a direct impact on the growth of runner plants of ‘Maehyang’ strawberry, and mayalso affect parameters of reproductive growth, such as flowering response and fruit yield after transplanting. KCI Citation Count: 0