Growth Analysis of Field-grown Strawberry Genotypes Differing in Yield: II. The Hill System

Abstract

Twelve field-grown strawberry genotypes ( Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) were studied. Plants were grown in a hill system and harvested weekly from early spring until the end of harvest. Genotypes differed in the progression of the natural log (In) of leaf area over time, leaf area ratio, and unit leaf rate. In all genotypes, In plant dry weight increased linearly over time, the relative growth rate was constant, and the absolute growth rate increased throughout the season. There were differences among genotypes in the number of crowns, crown dry weight, number of leaves, leaf dry weight, leaf area, specific leaf weight, number of inflorescences, and inflorescence dry weight during the fruit-filling and fruiting periods. Only crown dry weight during the fruit-filling period was correlated with yield among genotypes.