FLORAL INDUCTION DURATION, PLANT ARCHITECTURE AND FRUIT PRODUCTION RELATIONS IN STRAWBERRY CV. 'CIFLORETTE'

This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of the duration of floral inductive conditions in the nursery on plant architecture and fruit yields for a soilless crop in a heated greenhouse. Plants of cv. ‘Ciflorette’ were grown as traditional trayplants until October 13^th 2006 under natural floral inductive conditions. Plants were then placed in a glasshouse until the onset of chilling conditions. During this glasshouse period, plants were exposed to long days (non inductive) and/or short days (inductive) conditions to achieve: (a) short induction period, (b) medium induction period, (c) long induction period. During the first harvest period, the inflorescence number per plant, fruit number and fruit yield were greater for the medium induction and long induction periods, and reduced for the short induction period. During the second harvest period, the short induction period resulted in greater fruit production as a result of greater production during the last twenty days of April, which could be interpreted as a compensation of previous lower fruit production. The autumn inductive conditions only act over a limited production period. Greater fruit production during this period could be related to a greater number of more developed inflorescences just before chilling. The induction duration should reach a minimum value to provide satisfying fruit production during the early harvest period.