Subtropical and Temperate Fruit Production
HORMA 201 - M.Sc. (Ag.) Horticulture
UNIT III: Litchi, Loquat, Persimmon, Kiwifruit, Strawberry
Table of Contents
Commercial varieties of regional, national and international importance,
Ecophysiological requirements, recent trends in propagation, rootstock influence,
planting systems, cropping systems, root zone and canopy management, nutrient
management, water management, fertigation, bioregulation, abiotic factors limiting fruit
production, physiology of flowering, fruit set and development, abiotic factors limiting
production, physiological disorders, causes and remedies, quality improvement by
management practices; maturity indices, harvesting, grading, packing, precooling,
storage, transportation and ripening techniques; industrial and export potential, Agri Export Zones(AEZ) and industrial support.
Chapter 14 -
🍓 STRAWBERRY (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.)
Family: Rosaceae
Origin: Hybrid of Fragaria virginiana (USA) × Fragaria chiloensis (Chile)
Ploidy: Octaploid (2n = 56)
Fruit type: Aggregate of achenes on a fleshy receptacle
Edible part: Enlarged receptacle
🔹 1. Commercial Varieties of Regional, National & International Importance
🔹 2. Ecophysiological Requirements
- Climate: Subtropical to temperate
- Photoperiod: Short day for flower induction in most varieties
- Temperature: 15–25°C ideal for growth and fruiting
- Altitude: 1000–2500 m for best results in India
- Soil: Sandy loam, rich in organic matter, pH 5.5–6.5
- Drainage: Essential; root rot common in poorly drained soils
🔹 3. Recent Trends in Propagation
- Runner propagation: Traditional and widely used
- Tissue culture: Produces virus-free, true-to-type, uniform plant
- Micropropagation: Commercially practiced in organized nurseries
- Crown division: Less common, used in home gardens
🔹 4. Rootstock Influence
- Not a major concern as it's usually propagated vegetatively
- Some use Fragaria vesca as rootstock in breeding programs
- Rootstocks can influence disease resistance and soil adaptation
🔹 5. Planting Systems
🔹 6. Cropping Systems
- Mono-cropping preferred
- Intercropping is not common due to shallow roots
- Off-season production is possible in protected structures
🔹 7. Root Zone & Canopy Management
- Shallow root system – requires regular irrigation
- Mulching with straw/black polythene conserves moisture and suppresses weeds
- Canopy should be open for air movement to reduce fungal diseases
🔹 8. Nutrient Management
- Split dose: ½ N at planting, rest after flowering
- Micronutrients: B, Zn, and Fe important for fruit quality
- Excess nitrogen reduces fruit firmness and shelf life
- Split dose: ½ N at planting, rest after flowering
- Micronutrients: B, Zn, and Fe important for fruit quality
- Excess nitrogen reduces fruit firmness and shelf life
🔹 9. Water Management
- Critical during flowering and fruit set
- Frequent but light irrigations (every 2–3 days)
- Avoid over-irrigation to prevent root rot
- Drip irrigation preferred
🔹 10. Fertigation
- Enhances nutrient use efficiency and yield
- Apply water-soluble NPK fertilizers (19:19:19, 13:0:45)
- Can combine with micronutrients via drip
🔹 11. Bioregulation
🔹 12. Abiotic Factors Limiting Production
🔹 13. Physiology of Flowering, Fruit Set & Development
- Flowering: 60–70 days after planting
- Pollination: Self-pollinated, but bees improve fruit quality
- Fruit set: 80–90%; auxins in achenes stimulate receptacle growth
- Development: 20–30 days post-anthesis; non-climacteric
🔹 14. Physiological Disorders – Causes & Remedies
🔹 15. Quality Improvement by Management Practices
- Use of black plastic mulch – improves size, color, earliness
- Balanced fertilization – higher TSS and firmness
- Proper harvesting stage – peak color and firmness
🔹 16. Maturity Indices
- Bright red color covering full fruit
- Firmness and flavor development
- Days from flowering: 25–35 days
- Non-climacteric – should be harvested when fully ripe
🔹 17. Harvesting, Grading, Packing
- Harvest early morning when cool
- Hand-picked with calyx intact
- Graded by size, color, and uniformity
- Packed in ventilated punnets or plastic trays (250–500g)
- Yield: 20–25 t/ha under good management
🔹 18. Precooling, Storage & Transportation
- Precooling at 0–1°C immediately after harvest
- Storage at 0–1°C with 90–95% RH: shelf life ~5–7 days
- CA storage can extend to 2–3 weeks
- Transport in refrigerated vans to maintain freshness
🔹 19. Ripening Techniques
- Non-climacteric – does not ripen after harvest
- Should be harvested at full maturity
- Ethylene not required for ripening
🔹 20. Industrial & Export Potentia
- Used in jams, jellies, squashes, wine, yogurt, ice cream, cosmetics
- Rich in vitamin C, anthocyanins, antioxidants
- High potential for export to Gulf and South Asian markets
- India: Processing industry is growing; need for better infrastructure
🔹 21. Agri Export Zones (AEZ) & Industrial Support
- No specific AEZ for strawberry
- Support under NHM, MIDH, and FPO schemes
- Potential in Mahabaleshwar (MH), Nainital (UK), Kashmir, Himachal, Sikkim
- Cold chain development and branding needed for exports
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