GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF 4 DAY-NEUTRAL STRAWBERRIES UNDER HYDROPONICSYSTEM WITH OR WITHOUT CHILLING

Variations in vegetative and reproductive growth patterns in response to chilling treatment were evaluated in four day-neutral strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa Duch. cvs. 'Miyoshi', 'Summerberry', 'Enrai' and 'Everberry') under the NFT (nutrient film technique) system in plastic house. The results indicated that vegetative and reproductive growth of all cultivars responded to chilling. Apparently, the petiole length and leaf area responded to chilling after planting until early June, while the chilling had little effect on leaf production until April. C hilling also promoted flower production of the four cultivars so that it appears to be the dominant factor governing yield. 'Everberry' and 'Enrai' evidently have low yields and adaptability, and cannot be mani pulated satisfactorily under the NFT system whereas 'Summerberry' was intermidiate and responded favorably to manipulation. We conclude from our findings that 'Miyoshi' grew and yielded better under the NFT sys tem than did the other three cultivars with or without chilling.