scholarly journals FREQUÊNCIA DA FERTIRRIGAÇÃO FOSFATADA NA PRODUTIVIDADE DA CULTURA DA MELANCIA

Irriga ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 257
Author(s):  
Benito Moreira de Azevedo ◽  
Carlos Newdmar Vieira Fernandes ◽  
Joaquim Raimundo do Nascimento Neto ◽  
Thales Vinícius De Araújo Viana ◽  
Denise Vieira Vasconcelos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shell Thickness ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Phosphate Fertilization ◽  
Crop Cycle ◽  
Polar Diameter ◽  
Brazilian Northeast ◽  
Caixa Postal ◽  
Culture Productivity

FREQUÊNCIA DA FERTIRRIGAÇÃO FOSFATADA NA PRODUTIVIDADE DA CULTURA DA MELANCIA BENITO MOREIRA DE AZEVEDO1; CARLOS NEWDMAR VIEIRA FERNANDES2; JOAQUIM RAIMUNDO DO NASCIMENTO NETO3; THALES VINÍCIUS DE ARAÚJO VIANA1; DENISE VIEIRA VASCONCELOS3 E CHRISLENE NOJOSA DIAS FERNANDES3 [1]Departamento de Engenharia Agrícola, CCA/UFC, Av. Mister Hull, s/n, Bloco 804. Caixa Postal 12.168, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil, 60.455 970, [email protected], [email protected] Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará (IFCE), Campus Iguatu, Rodovia CE-060, Cajazeiras 63503-790 – Iguatu, CE, Brasil. [email protected] de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Agrícola, CCA/UFC, Av. Mister Hull, s/n, Bloco 804. Caixa Postal 12.168, Fortaleza-CE, Brasil, 60.455 970, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]  1 RESUMO A melancia (Citrullus lanatus) tem grande importância socioeconômica para o Nordeste brasileiro, onde o cultivo sob irrigação vem crescendo e permitindo ao produtor ofertar frutos de melhor qualidade. Objetivou-se avaliar a influência de frequências de fertirrigação fosfatada nos componentes de produção e produtividade da melancia. O delineamento adotado foi o de blocos ao acaso constituído por seis tratamentos, referentes a seis frequências de fertirrigação com fósforo, sendo: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 e 64 fertirrigações no ciclo e quatro repetições. As variáveis analisadas foram: produtividade comercial; massa média do fruto; diâmetro polar; diâmetro equatorial; espessura da casca e teor de sólidos solúveis. O aumento da frequência de fertirrigação fosfatada proporcionou um melhor desempenho da cultura da melancia. As variáveis produtividade comercial e espessura da casca foram influenciadas significativamente pelas frequências de fertirrigação com fósforo, tendo as mesmas apresentado resposta linear. A frequência de fertirrigação fosfatada de 64 fertirrigações no ciclo de cultivo proporcionou a maior produtividade da melancia. Palavras-chave: Citrullus lanatus; quimigação; ácido fosfórico; adubação fosfatada.  AZEVEDO, B. M. de; FERNANDES, C. N. V.; NASCIMENTO NETO, J. R. do; VIANA, T. V. de A.; VASCONCELOS, D. V.; FERNANDES, C. N. D.FREQUENCY OF FERTIRRIGATION WITH PHOSPHATE IN WATERMELON CULTURE PRODUCTIVITY  2 ABSTRACT Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is of great socioeconomic importance for the Brazilian Northeast, where crop under irrigation has increased and allowed the producer to offer the best quality fruits. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of frequency of fertirrigation with phosphate  components on watermelon production and productivity. The study design was a randomized block consisting of six treatments, referring to six frequencies of fertirrigation with phosphorus, as follows: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 in fertigation cycle and four replications. The variables analyzed were: commercial productivity; fruit weight; polar diameter; equatorial diameter; shell thickness and soluble solids. The increased frequency of phosphorus fertirrigation provided a better performance of the watermelon crop. The variables commercial productivity and shell thickness were significantly influenced by the frequencies of fertirrigation with phosphorus, and presented the same linear response. The 64 frequency of phosphorus fertirrigation  of the crop cycle provided the greatest productivity of watermelon. Keywords: Citrullus lanatus; chemigation; phosphoric acid; phosphate fertilization.

scholarly journals Irrigation and fertigation frequencies with nitrogen in the watermelon culture

Bragantia ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Newdmar Vieira Fernandes ◽  
Benito Moreira de Azevedo ◽  
Joaquim Raimundo Nascimento Neto ◽  
Thales Vinícius de Araújo Viana ◽  
Geocleber Gomes de Sousa
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Shell Thickness ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Irrigation Frequency ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Equatorial Diameter ◽  
Polar Diameter

This study evaluates the influence of different irrigation frequencies and different nitrogen fertigation frequencies on the growth performance of the watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) culture. Two experiments were conducted at the Paraguay farm in the Cruz municipality, Ceará, Brazil. They was randomized blocks design with six treatments and four replications. The irrigation frequency experiment consisted of the application of different irrigation frequencies. The treatments were: DM - daily irrigation in the morning with 100% daily dosage; DT - daily irrigation in the afternoon, with 100% daily dosage; DMT - twice daily irrigation, with 50% daily dosage in the morning and 50% daily dosage in the afternoon; 2D - irrigation every two days; 3D - irrigation every three days and 4D - irrigation every four days. To the experiment with different nitrogen fertigation frequencies, the treatments used were: 2F - 2 fertigations in a cycle; 4F - 4 fertigations in a cycle; 8F - 8 fertigations in a cycle; 16F - 16 fertigations in a cycle; 32F - 32 fertigations in a cycle and 64F - 64 fertigations in a cycle. We evaluated the marketable yield (PC), fruit weight (M), polar diameter (DP), equatorial diameter (DE), shell thickness (EC) and soluble solids (SS). The irrigation frequency treatments influenced all variables significantly, with twice daily irrigation (DMT, 50% in the morning and the 50% in the afternoon) promoting the highest productivity (69.79 t ha-1). The different frequencies of fertigation also significantly influenced all variables, except for the shell thickness, the highest yield (80.69 t ha-1) being obtained with treatment 64 fertigations in a cycle.

scholarly journals In-row Distance in Triploid Miniwatermelon Cultivars Affects Yield and Quality in Diverse Environments in the Southeastern United States

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 538-545
Author(s):  
Richard L. Hassell ◽  
Jonathan R. Schultheis ◽  
Wilfred R. Jester ◽  
Stephen M. Olson ◽  
Gilbert A. Miller
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Row Spacing ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Marketable Fruit ◽  
Eastern North Carolina ◽  
Location Interaction

The goals of these studies were to determine how miniwatermelon (Citrullus lanatus) cultivars differed and responded to plant in-row spacing in terms of percentage of marketable fruit and yields, and if plant spacing impacted internal fruit quality. Three genetically diverse triploid miniwatermelon cultivars (Mohican, Petite Perfection, and Xite) were selected. These cultivars were evaluated in field locations at northern Florida (Quincy), central South Carolina (Blackville), coastal South Carolina (Charleston), and eastern North Carolina (Kinston) at five within-row distances. Within-row distance included 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 inches. All plots were15 ft long with row middles 9 ft apart. Fruit were categorized as marketable if they weighed between 3.1 and 9.0 lb per fruit. Within this range further categories were divided as follows: ≤3.0 lb (cull), 3.1 to 5.0 lb (small), 5.1 to 7.0 lb (average), 7.1 to 9.0 lb (large), and ≥9.1 lb (cull). There was a cultivar by location interaction, suggesting that the three cultivars responded differently at each of the four locations. ‘Petite Perfection’ was among the highest yielding at all locations except Quincy, where it was the lowest yielding cultivar. As with total yields, the percentage of marketable fruit was similar for some cultivars across locations. Cultivar Petite Perfection produced the highest percentage of marketable fruit at three of the four locations. The exception was the Quincy site where ‘Xite’ had the highest percentage of marketable fruit. Within-row plant distances and populations affected total marketable yield, both for fruit weight and number per plant, regardless of cultivar and location. As the plant population increased from eight plants per plot (21-inch in-row spacing) to 12 plants per plot (15-inch in-row spacing), total marketable miniwatermelon fruit yields increased in total fruit number as well as total weight. There was a cultivar by location interaction for the percentage of soluble solids and the rind thickness measurements, suggesting that some cultivars responded differently at each of the four locations. Quality effects were more apparent with ‘Mohican’ and ‘Xite’, as they were more responsive to location than ‘Petite Perfection’.

scholarly journals Performance of mini-tomato hybrids in different training systems with different number of stems

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 428-433
Author(s):  
Pablo F Vargas ◽  
Leonardo S Duarte ◽  
Edgard HC Silva ◽  
Amanda C Zecchini ◽  
Renato S Soares ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Block Design ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Production Cycle ◽  
Training Systems ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Crop Cycle ◽  
Chlorophyll Index ◽  
Number Of Stems ◽  
Fruit Diameter

ABSTRACT At present, Brazil is among the world's largest tomato producers. This production is directed both for the industry and for fresh consumption. Among the different tomato groups, production of mini-tomatoes has grown in recent years because of their high commercial value and mainly greater price stability. However, there are few studies investigating the proper management of this group, as it is recent in the country. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the viability of mini-tomato hybrids in different training systems, in greenhouse conditions. The experiment was set as a randomized block design in a 2×2×4 factorial arrangement with two numbers of stems (one and two stems per plant), two training systems [conventional (vertical) and horizontal], and four hybrids [AF 18196 (Sakata Seed); AF 13106 (Sakata Seed); Nina (Takii Seed) and Cocktail Mascot (Agristar/Top Seed Premium)], with three replicates and four plants per plot in the usable area. The evaluated variables were production per plant, fruit weight, transverse and longitudinal fruit diameter, number of fruits per plant, number of clusters per plant, number of fruits per cluster, precocity, production cycle, chlorophyll index, soluble solids, and crop cycle. The most promising hybrids are AF 13106 (2.71 kg/plant), AF 18196 (2.63 kg/plant) and Mascot (2.38 kg/plant), managed with two stems (2.63 kg/plant), in the vertical system (2.94 kg/plant).

scholarly journals Cucurbitaceae Germplasm Resistance to Verticillium Wilt and Grafting Compatibility with Watermelon

HortScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-148
Author(s):  
Abigail Attavar ◽  
Lydia Tymon ◽  
Penelope Perkins-Veazie ◽  
Carol A. Miles
Keyword(s):  
Verticillium Wilt ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
The United States ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Mature Fruit ◽  
Progress Curve ◽  
Germplasm Accessions

Grafting is used in watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum and Nakai] production as a means to combat soilborne diseases. To support the development of new rootstock cultivars in the United States, we screened cucurbit germplasm accessions for resistance to verticillium wilt (caused by Verticillium dahliae Kleb.) and for compatibility as watermelon rootstocks. Screening was done using a field naturally infested with V. dahliae [5 and 7.5 colony-forming units (cfu)·g−1 soil in 2017 and 2018, respectively], and plants were inoculated at transplanting (1.5 and 104 cfu of V. dahliae per plant in 2017 and 2018, respectively). In 2017, 56 germplasm accessions from three genera commonly used as rootstocks, Cucurbita, Lagenaria, and Benincasa, were sourced from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Plant Germplasm System and area under the verticillium wilt (disease) progress curve (AUDPC) values ranged from 16 to 397. The 14 accessions with the lowest AUDPC values and good germination (>40%) were used as rootstocks along with the commercial rootstock cv. Tetsukabuto (control), and all were grafted with watermelon cv. Secretariat as the scion in 2018. Grafted plant survival rate was greatest for ‘Tetsukabuto’ (90%) and the accession PI 381840 (L. siceraria) (89%), and ranged from 22% to 85% for all other accessions. All grafted treatments that produced mature fruit in 2018 tended to flower at the same time as nongrafted ‘Secretariat’, with first male and female flowers occurring in 45 to 50 days and 44 to 51 days after transplanting, respectively. There were no significant differences in AUDPC values due to grafting or when accessions were compared with ‘Tetsukabuto’. Only six accessions produced mature fruit when grafted with ‘Secretariat’, indicating they were compatible for watermelon grafting. Fruit weight and number as well as total soluble solids, pH, lycopene content, rind firmness and thickness, and dry matter content were similar for all accessions and ‘Tetsukabuto’ grafted on ‘Secretariat’. Only fruit flesh firmness differed and was highest for ‘Secretariat’ grafted on ‘PI 491316’ and lowest for ‘Secretariat’ grafted on ‘PI 49174’. The six verticillium wilt-tolerant accessions that were compatible with watermelon could potentially be used as rootstocks or as sources of genetic resistance in rootstock breeding programs.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Watermelon Varieties under Organic Production Practices in Georgia

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 382-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
George E. Boyhan ◽  
Suzanne O’Connell ◽  
Ryan McNeill ◽  
Suzanne Stone
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Production Practices ◽  
Certified Organic ◽  
Solids Content

Organic production is a fast-growing sector of agriculture in need of variety evaluations under their unique production systems. This study evaluated 16 watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) varieties for their performance characteristics under organic production practices. Plants were grown on plastic mulch-covered beds on land that had been certified organic in accordance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Program. Six of the entries were F1 hybrids; the remaining entries were open-pollinated (OP) varieties. Of the 10 OP varieties, three were considered heirloom varieties, including Cream of Saskatchewan, Georgia Rattlesnake, and Moon & Stars. ‘Georgia Rattlesnake’ was the highest yielding variety and had the greatest average fruit weight. Along with ‘Georgia Rattlesnake’, ‘Nunhems 800’, ‘Nunhems 860’, ‘Orangeglo’, and ‘SSX 8585’ were included in the top five yielding varieties. The top five yielding varieties had fruit size that averaged more than 20 lb. Fruit size correlated with rind thickness, with lighter fruit having thinner rind (Pearson’s correlation, r = 0.779), which is not unexpected. ‘Sangria’ had the greatest average soluble solids content at 11.2%, which was greater than all entries with soluble solids less than 10%.

scholarly journals Use of External Indicators to Predict Maturity of Mini-watermelon Fruit

HortScience ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (7) ◽  
pp. 1034-1037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar L. Vinson ◽  
Floyd M. Woods ◽  
Joseph M. Kemble ◽  
Penelope Perkins-Veazie ◽  
Angela Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Information Criterion ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Fit Statistics ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Acid Ratio ◽  
Internal Indicator ◽  
Solids Content ◽  
Spot Color

Mini-watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.)] cultivars Valdoria and Vanessa were evaluated at 20, 30, 40, or 50 days after anthesis to determine maturity at harvest. Fruit circumference, weight, ground spot color, and number of senescent tendrils were measured as external indicators for each watermelon. Soluble solids content (SS), pH, and SS:total acid ratio (SS:TA) of each watermelon were determined to provide an indication of internal maturity. Regression and Akaike Information Criterion fit statistics analyses were performed to determine significant relationships and best predictors for external indicators of internal maturity factors. In this study, external predictors were most closely linked to fruit pH rather than to SS or SS/TA. Of the external indicators tested, fruit weight, circumference, number of senescent tendrils, and International Commission on Illumination (CIE) b* color coordinate values of the ground spot were best related to fruit pH. According to the regression models, two completely senesced tendrils, a circumference of 53 cm, weight of 3 kg, and CIE b* coordinate ground spot value of 40 are each sufficient to predict maturity when pH is used as the internal indicator of maturity under the conditions of this experiment.

scholarly journals 107 Postharvest Storage Profile of Spondias mombim Fruit

HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 407C-407
Author(s):  
L.P. Martins ◽  
S.M. Silva
Keyword(s):  
Storage Temperature ◽  
Chilling Injury ◽  
Modified Atmosphere Packaging ◽  
Titratable Acidity ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Modified Atmosphere ◽  
Quality Maintenance ◽  
Brazilian Northeast

Spondias mombim L. fruit, commonly known in the Brazilian Northeast as “caj,” has increased its acceptance locally and abroad in recent years due to its exotic and delicious pulp. Spondias mombim fruit can be eaten raw or as juice, jellies, and sweet. Trade in S. mombim, however, has been limited by the highly perishable nature of the fruit. Comprehensive studies on proper postharvest technologies for its storage and enhanced shelflife are required to improve its commercial performance. The determination of proper storage temperature allows reducing the rate of metabolism without causing chilling injury. In addition, modified atmosphere packaging, by using low-density polyethylene (LDPE), may delay fruit ripening. Combination of proper temperature and film O2 and CO2 permeabilities, therefore, may enhance the postharvest shelflife of S. mombim fruits. Ripened fruits were stored with and without film, at temperatures varying from 16 °C to 5 °C, at 0.5 °C steps, in order to set proper storage temperature and shelflife. Changes in fruit weight loss, firmness, soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, sugars, CO2 production, ascorbic acid, and carotenoids contents were measured during storage. Storage of S. mombim, wrapped with LDPE, at 8 °C allowed quality maintenance and increased the fruit postharvest shelflife by 12 days, without causing chilling injury.

Evaluasi Keragaan Beberapa Hibrida Semangka Koleksi Balai Penelitian Tanaman Buah Tropika

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-105
Author(s):  
Makful Makful ◽  
Kuswandi Kuswandi ◽  
Sahlan Sahlan ◽  
Mega Andini
Keyword(s):  
Skin Color ◽  
Sweet Taste ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Hybrid Breeding ◽  
Skin Thickness ◽  
Tropical Fruit ◽  
Total Soluble Solids ◽  
Soluble Solid ◽  
High Yielding Varieties

Hybrid breeding of watermelon has led to the formation of high-yielding varieties. The objectives of the research were to determine the performance of hybrid watermelon of the Indonesian Tropical Fruit Research Institute (ITFRI) collection and to evaluate the superiority of each hybrid. The research has been conducted at Sumani Experimental Garden, ITFRI, Solok, West Sumatera, from April to July 2016. The material used consisted of 19 cross combinations. The data from this descriptive study were presented in the form of averages and pictures. The results showed that the hybrids that were tested showed diversity in size, fruit skin color, flesh color, skin thickness and fruit sweetness. Hybrids with three excellent characters, i.e. medium fruit weight, high total soluble solids (TSS) value, and moderate rind thickness, were not yet obtained. Hybrids that had the superiority in term of sweet taste and shelf life were BT1 × SGP, BT4 × BT4P, BT5 × BT4, BT6 × SGP and SGP × BT6. Keywords: hybrid, performance, total soluble solids, watermelon   ABSTRAK Pemuliaan hibrida pada semangka mengarah kepada pembentukan varietas berdaya hasil tinggi. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui keragaan hibrida semangka koleksi Balitbu Tropika dan untuk mengevaluasi keunggulan masing-masing hibrida Penelitian dilaksanakan di Kebun Percobaan Sumani, Balitbu Tropika, Solok, Sumatera Barat, dari bulan April sampai dengan Juli 2016. Materi yang digunakan terdiri dari 19 kombinasi persilangan. Data hasil penelitian deskriptif ini ditampilkan dalam bentuk rataan dan gambar. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa hibrida yang diuji memiliki keragaman dalam ukuran, warna kulit buah, warna daging buah, ketebalan kulit buah dan kemanisan. Belum ditemukan hibrida yang memiliki tiga karakter unggul, yang terdiri dari bobot buah sedang, total padatan terlarut (total soluble solid) tinggi, dan kulit buah agak tebal. Hibrida yang memiliki keunggulan berupa rasa manis dan tahan simpan adalah BT1 × SGP, BT4 × BT4P, BT5 × BT4, BT6 × SGP dan SGP × BT6. Kata kunci: hibrida, keragaan, semangka, total padatan terlarut

scholarly journals Foliar Urea with N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide for Sustainable Yield and Quality of Pineapple in a Controlled Environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6880
Author(s):  
Mohammad Amdadul Haque ◽  
Siti Zaharah Sakimin ◽  
Phebe Ding ◽  
Noraini Md. Jaafar ◽  
Mohd Khanif Yusop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Loss ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Urea Solution ◽  
Urease Inhibitor ◽  
N Losses ◽  
N Accumulation ◽  
Yield And Quality

In agricultural production, nitrogen loss leads to economic loss and is a high environmental risk affecting plant growth, yield, and quality. Use of the N fertilizer with a urease inhibitor is thus necessary to minimize N losses and increase the efficiency of N. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) on the growth, yield, and quality of pineapple. The experiment involved two foliar fertilizer treatments: 1% (w/v) urea solution with NBPT (2.25 mL kg−1 urea) was treated as NLU (NBPT Liquid Urea), and the same concentration of urea without NBPT served as the control. Both were applied 12 times, starting 1 month after planting (MAP) and continuing once a month for 12 months. The application of urea with NBPT notably increased the above-ground dry biomass per plant (20% and 10% at 8 and 12 MAP, respectively), leaf area per plant (23% and 15% at 8 and 12 MAP, respectively), N accumulation per plant (10%), PFPN (Partial Factor Productivity) (13%), and average fruit weight (15%) compared to the treatment with urea alone (control). The analysis of quality parameters indicated that urea with NBPT improves TSS (Total Soluble Solids) (19%), ascorbic acid (10%), and sucrose (14%) but reduces the total organic acid content (21%) in pineapple. When using urea with a urease inhibitor (NBPT), there was a significant improvement in growth, yield, quality, and nitrogen use efficiency, with the additional benefit of reduced nitrogen losses, in combination with easy handling. Hence, urea with a urease inhibitor can be used as a viable alternative for increasing pineapple yield by boosting growth with better fruit quality.

scholarly journals Higher Temperatures Decrease Fruit Size in Strawberry Growing in the Subtropics

Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Christopher Menzel
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Size ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Titratable Acidity ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Small Fruit ◽  
Solids Content

Five strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cultivars were grown in Queensland, Australia to determine whether higher temperatures affect production. Transplants were planted on 29 April and data collected on growth, marketable yield, fruit weight and the incidence of small fruit less than 12 g until 28 October. Additional data were collected on fruit soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA) from 16 September to 28 October. Minimum temperatures were 2 °C to 4 °C higher than the long-term averages from 1965 to 1990. Changes in marketable yield followed a dose-logistic pattern (p < 0.001, R2s = 0.99). There was a strong negative relationship between fruit weight (marketable) and the average daily mean temperature in the four or seven weeks before harvest from 29 July to 28 October (p < 0.001, R2s = 0.90). There were no significant relationships between SSC and TA, and temperatures in the eight days before harvest from 16 September to 28 October (p > 0.05). The plants continued to produce a marketable crop towards the end of the season, but the fruit were small and more expensive to harvest. Higher temperatures in the future are likely to affect the economics of strawberry production in subtropical locations.

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