Reduced winter chill as a means to improve the production potential of late day-neutral strawberry cultivars

Abstract

The main production peak of day-neutral strawberry cultivar ‘Verity’ is typically late compared with other day-neutral cultivars grown in Belgium. Delay in the onset of flower initiation in spring means that a dip in production is experienced between autumn and spring initiated crops. Not only is continuity of supply interrupted, but more importantly, total yield potential is limited, preventing widespread adoption of such varieties by growers. Results of this trial elucidate that prolonged exposure to chill (hours < 7°C) during storage as a frigo plant is responsible for this delay, and that plants of ‘Verity’ receiving less winter chill provide higher earlier yields and a shorter delay between autumn and spring initiated crops.