Effects of Root-zone Cooling with Short-day Treatment in Pot-grown Strawberry (<i>Fragaria</i> × <i>ananassa</i> Duch.) Nurseries on Flowering and Fruit Production

Abstract

We applied the New Root-zone Environmental Control System (N.RECS), which comprises floor heating panels with chilled or heated water flow and heat-insulating pot trays, to cool the root zone of pot-grown strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) nurseries in late summer, and investigated the effects on the subsequent flowering and yield in a super-forcing culture. Cooling at around 20°C with short-day (8-h daylength) treatment for 22 days accelerated and stabilized the flower bud formation of two June-bearing cultivars, 'Nyoho' and 'Tochiotome'. The temperature at the soil surface, where the crown is located, was around 23°C on average during root-zone cooling, possibly acting as a cold stimulus on the shoot apical meristem, which initiated flowering. Root-zone cooling did not affect the development of new leaves during treatment. Combined root-zone cooling with short-day treatment promoted anthesis of the first inflorescence to the same degree as conventional night cooling, but neither did so alone. Weight-based early marketable yield before December was doubled but the total yield during October to March was not increased. These data suggest that root-zone cooling with short-day treatment of June-bearing strawberries may be applicable for super-forcing culture harvested from October to mid-November.

Integration of Evaporative Greenhouse, Internet of Things and Root-zone Cooling to Enhance Growth and Development of Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) in Tropical Climate

“…Optimum RZT enhances respiration, oxygen consumption and cell viability of the root leading to high nutrient uptake and biomass accumulation. RZT could also alter the vegetative and reproductive growth of hydroponically grown strawberry plants [20]. [32] found that large RZT fluctuations negatively affected strawberry plant growth and leaf area as well as an uptake of some nutrients.…”

“…Higher root temperature can trigger early flowering and accelerate fruit ripening, resulting in low fruit qualities and a shorter harvesting period. By cooling the root zone, the strawberry plants are better prepared to withstand heat stress, leading to healthier plants and improved yields [19,20]. Cooling root zone techniques such as drip irrigation, mulching, and shading can be employed.…”

Evaluation of the Coolnet Placement Distance to Direct Evaporative Cooling to Increase Potato Seed Production in Aeroponic Systems with Root Zone Cooling in the Lowlands

“…Several applications of root zone cooling have succeeded in supporting the growth and development of vegetable production in the summer well and in the roots and shoots there has been an increase in nutrient uptake (Al-Rawahy et al, 2018). Control by root zone cooling also accelerates the formation of flower buds on strawberry plants (Mizuno et al, 2022), improves broccoli growth (Díaz-Pérez, 2009), increases the productivity of lettuce plants (Jie & Kong, 1998), increases the rate of nutrient uptake and root growth on tomato plants (Kawasaki et al, 2013).…”

Effects of the Air Temperature and Root Zone Temperature in Greenhouses on the Early Growth of Tomatoes

“…대기온도 35°C의 경우 근권부 온도를 20°C와 25°C로 조절하였을 때 토마토 묘의 엽수와 엽면적의 생육이 가장 좋았으나 근권부 온도를 15°C로 조절하였을 때 다른 처리구에 비해 생육이 억제되는 결과를 보였다(Tables2, 3, 4 and Fig.4). 토마토의 경우 근권부 온도는 뿌리 생육과 양수분 흡수에 영향을 미치며 대기온도가 증가함에 따라 엽수가 증가한다는 연 구 결과가 보고된 바 있어 본 연구의 결과와 일치하였다(Mizuno et al, 2022).…”