EFFECT OF SIDE AND LEVEL OF CULTIVATION ON PRODUCTION AND QUALITY OF STRAWBERRY PRODUCED BY AEROPONIC SYSTEM

     The experiment was conducted at the Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate Experimental Station, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt to investigate the effect of side and level of cultivation on production and quality of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) cv. Camarosa grown in aeroponic system. The experiment was carried out during two seasons (1999 / 2000 and 2000 / 2001).
      The experiment included two cultivation sides (north and south) of the aeroponic system and four cultivation levels (L1, L2, L3, L4) in each side. Some vegetative growth & yield and quality characters were recorded during the period of experiment. All the studied traits were analyzed within splite plot design with three replications.
      Results indicated that there were no significant differences of cultivation sides regarding number of strawberry leaves and fruit firmness. On the other hand, cultivating the plants in the south side increased total yield, vitamin C and TSS of strawberry fruits significantly. In contrary, cultivation in the south side of the aeroponic system reduced fruit acidity significantly.
      And there was significant effect of cultivation level on total number of leaves; total leaves area, total yield, vitamin C and TSS of strawberry fruits.