EFFECTS OF CULTIVARS AND SUBSTRATES ON SOILLESS STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION IN CYPRUS

This experiment was conducted to generate up-to-date, practical and location specific information for soilless strawberry production in Cyprus. Commercial ‘fresh’ strawberry plants (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) of three cultivars (‘Camarosa’, ‘Selva’ and ‘Fern’) were cultivated in a plastic greenhouse using two different substrates (cocopeat and rockwool) wrapped in polyethylene slabs and placed on polygal troughs in a pyramid 2 levels layout (20.6 plants m^-2). Harvesting started in late February and lasted until the beginning of July. The total yield obtained from ‘Camarosa’ (442 g plant^-1) and ‘Fern’ (447 g plant^-1) was higher than that from ‘Selva’ (379 g plant^-1). Regarding substrates, the total fruit yield obtained was 451 g plant-1 with cocopeat and 395 g plant^-1 with rockwool. ‘Extra’ category fruit yield was also higher with cocopeat. ‘Camarosa’ was the earliest to produce, followed by ‘Fern’ and ‘Selva’. Water use efficiency, expressed as L of water per kg of fruits, was lower in ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Fern’ (~36 L kg^-1) than in ‘Selva’ (42 L kg^-1), but it was the same in both substrates (avg. 38.2 L kg^-1). ‘Camarosa’ fruits performed higher values of DM, SS, TA, SS/TA, ascorbic acid and total anthocyanins content. ‘Fern’ and ‘Selva’ were comparable to ‘Camarosa’ in total anthocyanins content and SS/TA ratio, respectively. No significant differences were found in total phenolics and antioxidant activity among cultivars. However, progressive harvesting from March to May improved fruit quality characteristics, bioactive compounds and subsequent antioxidant activity of fruits.