ISHS Acta Horticulturae 761: XXVII International Horticultural Congress - IHC2006: International Symposium on Advances in Environmental Control, Automation and Cultivation Systems for Sustainable, High-Quality Crop Production under Protected Cultivation
INFLUENCE OF LEAF/FRUIT RATIO OF STRAWBERRY PLANTS ON THE SENSORY QUALITY OF THEIR FRUITS |
| Authors: | C. Carlen, A.M. Potel, A. Ançay |
| Keywords: | Brix, cultivar, Fragaria ananassa Duch, leaf area, soluble solids, yield |
| Abstract:
Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch) cultivars showed significant variations in the sugar content of their fruits, which is an important sensory quality attribute. Plant attributes explaining these differences among cultivars are not well defined. The objective of this project was to analyse the influence of leaf/fruit ratio of strawberry plants on the sugar content of their fruits. The results revealed that the leaf/fruit ratios of the different cultivars were strongly related with the sugar content (°Brix) of their fruits. A higher leaf area per total strawberry yield increased the sugar content of the fruits. However, as the leaf area per g strawberries reached about 15 cm2, the increase in sugar content of the fruits stagnated. Two other experiments were conducted with artificial manipulation of the leaf/fruit ratio by reducing either the number of leaves or flowers of the cultivars ‘Marmolada’ or ‘Ciflorette’. These experiments confirmed that the leaf/fruit ratio was strongly related with the sugar content of the fruits. In conclusion, the leaf/fruit ratio seems to be a good indicator explaining the differences of the fruits’ sugar content among cultivars. A higher leaf area per total strawberry yield increases the sugar content of the fruits up to a leaf/fruit ratio of about 15 cm2/g. | |
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