Physiological performance reflecting in yield and quality of strawberry under vertical soilless culture system

Due to its health properties, strawberry is being promoted for year round production and this has been made possible through soilless cultivation. Production of strawberry cultivar 'trawberry Festival' under vertical soilless system in four tiers with soilless media in a passively ventilated greenhouse was attempted. Significant differences were observed in growth parameters namely, number of leaves, leaf area, crown diameter and biomass production. Higher photosynthesis rate due to higher photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) availability in the highest tier contributed for better growth of plants. Subsequently earliness in flowering, higher number of flowers, number of fruits, total fruit weight, average fruit weight in first tier was observed compared to remaining tiers lower in the column. It resulted in better quality fruits with higher fruit length, average fruit diameter, percentage marketable fruits, fruit total soluble solids and lower titrable acidity. For maximum utilization of growing area, the vertical soilless system is the best option for commercial production as well as home gardening. But limited light intensity and consequently the lower photosynthetic rate in lower tiers caused marked decrease in growth, yield and fruit quality of strawberry therefore; modification in the design was also attempted.