Fruiting as a Factor in Accumulation of Carbohydrates and Nitrogen and in Fall Cold Hardening of Day-neutral Strawberry Roots

Abstract

Nitrogen and carbohydrate content of roots and the onset of crown cold hardiness were compared in `Tristar' day-neutral (DN) strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) that were given various fruit removal treatments. Nontreated `Hecker' DN and `Redcoat' Junebearer were also used to determine genotypic variation. The removal of fruit after 15 or 30 Sept. promoted the accumulation of starch and increased cold tolerance of crowns as compared to fruiting plants. Nitrogen was increased only when fruit was removed after 15 Sept. DN cultivars were less hardy than Junebearing cultivars, but `Tristar' was almost as hardy as `Redcoat'. When compared to `Redcoat', DN cultivars had a less abrupt temperature-kill profile, perhaps because they were multicrowned.