Site effects on the main active and putative health-promoting compounds of strawberry were investigated using 5 strawberry genotypes. The plants were grown at three locations in Italy (Verona and Cesena in the North and Scanzano Jonico in the South) of differing latitude, environmental conditions (temperature) and crop management practices (planting date, plant type, harvest duration, yield per plant and per day) influencing fruits quality traits. At each site, fruits for analysis were picked at mid harvest (50% of total estimated yield) during the peak April-May marketing season, a mid-harvest window when consumers can choose fruits from both northern and southern districts. Yield per plant and fruits total soluble solids, titratable acidity, flesh firmness, skin colour, antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid, total phenols, total anthocyanins and phenolic compounds were determined. Genotype × site × climatic factors and cultivation technique interaction significantly affected yield per plant and almost all fruits quality traits. Given the longer harvest period and, hence, lower yield per day in the South, the fruits of this site were sweeter and of higher ascorbic acid and anthocyanin contents than that grown at the two North sites; the Verona fruits registered the highest acidity and antioxidant capacity. Fruits size and colour were unaffected by site. Soluble solids and ascorbic acid were negatively correlated to plant yield per day. A significant negative correlation between total antioxidant capacity, total polyphenols and fruits size was found. The main anthocyanin (pelargonidin-3-glucoside) was correlated to both total anthocyanin and total antioxidant capacity. Our overall data show that site-specific environmental conditions, especially in regard to the length of the climate-induced harvest window, and crop management practices affected fruits quality traits.

Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa D.) yield is affected by vigor of transplants. Those young and vigorous at planting lead to plants reaching higher vegetative growth and fruit yield than weak or old ones. This study aimed at determining plant growth, development, and fruit yield of the strawberry plant from bare root and plug transplants with different crown diameters. Bare root transplants were produced by rooting stolons and plug transplants from runner tips collected and rooted in a substrate growing bed. Three classes of crown diameters were compared in a 2 × 3 factorial and randomized block experimental design, with four replications, 16 plants per plot and a density of 6.6 plants m -2 . For bare root transplants, crown diameters were between 3.0 and 5.0 mm (class 1); 5.1 and 8.0 mm (class 2) and greater than 8.1 mm (class 3). For plug transplants, runner tips were screened between 2.0 and 3.9 mm (class 1); 4.0 and 5.5 mm (class 2) and 5.6 to 7.0 mm (class 3). Transplants of both types were planted at April 16 th , 2008, and at this date, crown diameter, shoot and root dry mass and number of leaves were higher in all classes of plug transplants. Ripe fruits were harvested from June 15 th to November 7 th , 2008, and fresh fruit yield was determined. Plant growth and development were determined at last harvest. Higher growth, development and fruit yield were obtained in plants from plug transplants. For bare root transplants, crown diameters higher than 5.1 mm can be used while for plug transplants the crown diameter of runner tips does not affect plant growth and fruit yield.

-The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of cell sizes used for strawberry plug production in trays compared to bare root transplants, regarding initial plant size, harvest timing, and total strawberry fruit yield. Plug transplants were produced from runner tips rooted in trays with cell sizes of 26.5, 50, 100 and 150 cm 3 filled with Plantmax HA organic substrate. Bare root transplants (control) were produced in a closed soilless system using sand as substrate. A randomized block design was used, with four replicates with 16 plants per plot. Bare root transplants and plug transplants from 100-cm 3 cells had larger crown and higher leaf and root dry mass. Early fruit yield was higher in plants propagated from plugs than in those propagated from bare root transplants. Spring and total fruit yield did not differ among treatments, with an average yield of 435 and 874 g per plant, respectively. Earlier strawberry fruit yield was obtained by using plug transplants, even from trays with small cells of 26.5 or 50 cm 3 .Index terms: Fragaria ananassa, bare root planting, plant nursery, plant propagation. Tamanho das células em bandejas para produção de mudas de morangueiroResumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência do tamanho das células utilizadas na produção de mudas de morangueiro em bandejas, comparadas a mudas de raízes nuas, quanto ao tamanho inicial da planta, período de colheita e produção total de frutos. As mudas em bandejas foram produzidas a partir de pontas de estolões enraizadas em células de 26,5, 50, 100 e 150 cm 3 , com o substrato orgânico Plantmax HA. As mudas de raízes nuas (controle) foram produzidas em um sistema sem solo com areia como substrato. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições de 16 plantas. As mudas de bandejas com células de 100 cm 3 e de raízes nuas atingiram diâmetro da coroa e massa de matéria seca de folhas e raízes mais elevadas. A produção precoce foi maior nas plantas propagadas por estolões que naquelas propagadas por raízes nuas. A produção de primavera e a total não diferiram entre os tratamentos, com média de 435 e 874 g por planta, respectivamente. A produção mais precoce de frutas foi obtida com mudas em bandejas, mesmo naquelas com células pequenas de 26,5 ou 50 cm 3 de volume.Termos para indexação: Fragaria ananassa, plantio de raiz nua, viveiro de planta, propagação vegetal.

-The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of crown diameter and growing period of runner tips in 128 cell-trays on growth and yield of strawberry in the field. Treatments consisted of three classes of runner tip crown diameters, between 2.0 to 3.9 mm; 4.0 to 5.5 mm and 5.6 to 7.0 mm, respectively, and four growing periods in trays, 24; 39; 54 and 69 days, respectively. Higher shoot dry mass of transplants at planting and earlier yield of plants in the field were obtained in transplants grown for 69 days in trays. Larger runner tips lead to more vigorous transplants at planting and plants with higher vegetative growth in the field, with minor impact on yield. Increasing the growing time of runner tips in trays improved early fruit yield and decreased plant vegetative growth in the field.Index terms: Fragaria x ananassa, early yield, propagation, plug plants. Desenvolvimento e produtividade do morangueiro influenciados pelo diâmetro da coroa e período de crescimento de mudasResumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência do diâmetro das pontas de estolão e do seu período de crescimento em bandejas sobre o crescimento da planta e produtividade do morangueiro Arazá. Os tratamentos consistiram em três classes de diâmetro das pontas de estolão: entre 2,0 e 3,9 mm; 4,0 e 5,5 mm e 5,6 e 7,0 mm, e quatro períodos de crescimento nas bandejas: 24; 39; 54 e 69 dias. Maior massa seca vegetativa das mudas no plantio e maior produção precoce das plantas foram obtidas com mudas que cresceram 69 dias nas bandejas. Pontas de estolão de maior diâmetro originaram mudas mais vigorosas no plantio e plantas com maior crescimento vegetativo no campo, sem efeito na produtividade de frutas. O aumento do período de crescimento das mudas nas bandejas aumentou a produção precoce de frutas e diminuiu o crescimento vegetativo das plantas no campo.Termos para indexação: Fragaria x ananassa, precocidade, propagação, muda com torrão.

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RESUMO Com o presente trabalho objetivou-se avaliar as características produtivas de diferentes genótipos de pessegueiro (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.), submetidos a podas em épocas distintas na região de Pelotas-RS. O experimento foi conduzido em uma área experimental pertencente à Embrapa

RESUMO -O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência do volume de alvéolos em bandejas no crescimento, no desenvolvimento de mudas e na produção de frutas do morangueiro. Os tratamentos consistiram em quatro volumes de alvéolos (50; 100; 180 e 312 mL) e duas cultivares ('Camarosa' e 'Aromas'), em delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições, nove plantas por parcela, conduzido no período entre abril e dezembro de 2011. Avaliaram-se os seguintes parâmetros: qualidade, crescimento, desenvolvimento das mudas e produção de frutas. Mudas com torrão produzidas em recipientes com maior volume de alvéolos proporcionaram maior precocidade e produção, em decorrência do maior diâmetro da coroa e a massa seca de parte aérea e raízes. Obteve-se correlação significativa entre a massa seca de raízes, massa seca da parte aérea e o diâmetro da coroa com a produção precoce de frutas. A qualidade da muda influencia diretamente na precocidade e na produção de frutas de morangueiro. Termos para indexação: Fragaria x ananassa, propagação, mudas nacionais, qualidade, precocidade. GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND YIELD OF STRAWBERRY FROM SEEDLINGS WITH DIFFERENT CLOD VOLUMESABSTRACT -The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of alveoli volume in trays on seedling growth and development, and fruit production of strawberry plants. The treatments consisted of four alveoli volumes (50, 100, 180 and 312 ml) and two cultivars ('Camarosa' and 'Aromas') in experimental design of randomized blocks with four replications, nine plants per plot, being conducted between April and December 2011. Were evaluated the ensuing parameters: quality, seedling growth and development and fruit yield. Seedlings in clods produced in containers with larger alveoli volume provided greater earliness and yield, due to increase in crown diameter, and dry mass of shoots and roots. We obtained a significant correlation between roots dry mass, shoot dry mass and crown diameter with the early fruit yield. The seedlings quality directly influence on the earliness and fruit yield of strawberry.

Production and quality of strawberry transplants in different nitrogen concentrations in soilless growing systemThe objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of nitrogen concentration on the production and quality of strawberry bare root transplants and runner tips in soilless growing system. Stock plants were planted on September 13 th , 2007. Transplants were harvested on February 18 th , 2008. Nitrogen concentrations of 8, 11, 14 and 17 mmol L -1 in the nutrient solution were evaluated. The experiment was arranged in a complete randomized design with five replications of 3.6m 2 plots. Number and crown diameter of bare root transplants and number of runner tips were evaluated at harvest. Number of bare root transplants and runner tips was not affected by N concentration in the nutrient solution. An average of 339 bare root transplants and 836 runner tips were harvest per stock plant. Increasing 1 mmol of N concentration of the nutrient solution decreases the crown diameter of bare root transplants in 0.4mm. In the soilless grown system with sand as substrate, the N concentration does not affect the production of bare root transplants and runner tips, but do affect crown diameter of strawberry bare root transplants.