Fruit Quality and Yield in Partially Defoliated Strawberry Plants in the Tropical Highlands

Casierra–Posada, Fánor; Torres, Israel D.; Blanke, Michael

doi:10.1007/s10343-013-0303-8

Cited by 19 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The results both from the ripening and chemical data indicate that herbivory at early reproductive state (presence of flowers and unripe berries) does not significantly reduce resources from the developmental process of berries in bilberry. This is in contrast with some previous findings showing negative effect of vegetative damage on fruit production or their chemical composition (Casierra-Posada et al 2013;Hegland et al 2005;Koptur et al 1996;Obeso 1993;Pastore et al 2013;Thalmann et al 2003). However, our result is similar to findings by Primack and Hall (1990), where the pink lady's slipper orchids (Cypripedium acaule Aiton) were able to mature their fruits despite defoliation, as well as Obeso and Grubb (1993) where defoliation did not affect fruit production during the year of damage.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Larval-defoliation also did not affected the total concentrations of anthocyanins, sugars, or organic acids (Table 4), even though their composition and/ or total concentrations can be affected by environmental factors, such as temperature, light and removal of leaves, despite the strong genetic control (Casierra-Posada et al 2013;Castellarin et al 2006;Etienne et al 2013;Léchaudel et al 2005;Lätti et al 2008;Pastore et al 2013;Uleberg et al 2012;Wang and Camp 2000;Åkerström et al 2010). For example, Casiera-Posada et al (2013) showed that defoliation can decrease the concentration of sugars and increase acidity in the strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Although the purpose of potentially unpalatable secondary metabolites in fleshy fruits and their possible effects on seed dispersers has long been of interest (reviewed in Cipollini and Levey 1997;Eriksson and Ehrlén 1998;Herrera 1982), the effects of herbivory on other biochemical characteristics, such as sugar or anthocyanin concentrations, are poorly known. However, removal of leaf tissue can negatively affect anthocyanin and sugar concentration as well as pH of fruits (Casierra-Posada et al 2013;Pastore et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Insect Herbivory on Bilberry Production and Removal of Berries by Frugivores

et al. 2017

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The evolutionary purpose of a fleshy fruit is to attract seed dispersers and get the seeds dispersed by frugivorous animals. For this reason, fruits should be highly rewarding to these mutualists. However, insect herbivory can alter plant reproductive success e.g. by decreasing fruit yield or affecting the attractiveness of the fruits to mutualistic seed dispersers. Under natural conditions, we tested the effects of experimental larval-defoliation on berry ripening and consumption of a non-cultivated dwarf shrub, the bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), which produces animal-dispersed berries with high sugar and anthocyanin concentration. Bilberry ramets with high fruit yield were most likely to have their berries foraged, indicating that frugivores made foraging choices based on the abundance of berries. Moreover, the probability for berries being foraged was the lowest for non-defoliated ramets that grew adjacent to larval-defoliated ramets, even though larval-defoliation did not affect the biochemical composition (total concentrations of anthocyanins, sugars and organic acids) or the probability of ripening of berries. We hypothesise that the lower probability for berries being foraged in these ramets may be a consequence of rhizome- or volatile-mediated communication between ramets, resulting in a priming effect of the herbivore defence and lower attractiveness of the non-defoliated ramets.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Insect Herbivory on Bilberry Production and Removal of Berries by Frugivores

et al. 2017

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“…Under the imposed experimental conditions, soilless cultivated strawberry plants were characterized by vegetative and reproductive performances that were below the standard for similar cultivation systems and cultivar [51,52]. This was also suggested by values of the leaf area to yield ratio that were found below 3 cm 2 g −1 , under the threshold considered as indicative of a good vegetative-reproductive balance for strawberry [53]. Despite the limited supply of nutrients to the plants, which consisted of a single fertigation done one week after transplant (Table 1), macronutrient levels in leaves and roots (Tables 5 and 7) were found within the range of sufficiency for strawberry plants as reported in the literature [54,55].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Foliar Applications of Biostimulants Promote Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Strawberry Plants Grown under Nutrient Limitation

et al. 2019

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Biostimulants have been found effective in enhancing plant resistance toward stressful conditions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of selected biostimulants to overcome the negative effects of nutrient limitation on the growth performances and on the fruit quality of soilless cultivated strawberry plants. The condition of nutrient limitation was imposed by supplying the plants with only a single fertilization at transplantation and by excluding any further nutrient supply for the entire duration of the experiment (three months, from May to July). Strawberry plants were treated seven times during the period from preflowering up to berry maturation with different classes of biostimulants (humic acids, alfalfa hydrolysate, macroseaweed extract and microalga hydrolysate, amino acids alone or in combination with zinc, B-group vitamins, chitosan, and a commercial product containing silicon) at commercial dosages. The use of alfalfa hydrolysate, vitamins, chitosan, and silicon was able to promote biomass accumulation in roots (four to seven folds) and fruits (+20%) of treated plants, whereas the total leaf area increased by 15%–30%. Nutrient concentrations in leaves and roots showed variations for microelements (e.g., Fe, B, Zn, and Si) in response to biostimulant applications, whereas no significant differences were observed for macronutrient contents among treatments. Final berry yield was found around 20% higher in chitosan- and silicon-treated plants. Chitosan treatment significantly increased pulp firmness (by 20%), while a high nutritional value (e.g., phenolic compounds concentration) was observed in alfalfa- and seaweed-treated fruits (+18%–20% as compared to control). The overall outcomes of the present experiment show that selected biostimulants can be considered as a valid agronomic tool able to contrast the negative consequence of growing crops under insufficient nutritional conditions.

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“…The cultivars produced 1.1 to 2.8 berries/leaf. Several other authors have examined the effect of defoliation on the yields of strawberries [13,[48][49][50]. Across these studies, a mean (± SE) 50 ± 4% decrease in the number or area of leaves/plant was associated with 26 ± 5% decrease in yields relative to non-defoliated controls.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No Evidence of Excessive Leaf Production by Strawberries Grown in the Subtropics

Menzel¹

2019

Agriculture

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Fruit growth in most plants is strongly dependent on photosynthates produced in the leaves. However, if there are too many leaves, the lower part of the canopy becomes heavily shaded and yields are reduced. Experiments were conducted to determine if cultivars of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) grown in Queensland, Australia have excessive leaf production for adequate cropping. Seven cultivars and breeding lines were planted from March to May from 2004 to 2016 and the number of fully-expanded leaves, dry weight of the flowers and fruit, and yield/plant recorded (n = 23). Information was collected on daily maximum and minimum temperatures and solar radiation. Increases in the number of leaves/plant over the season followed a linear pattern (range in R2 from 0.81–0.99), with the relationship generally similar or better than a dose-logistic (sigmoid) function (range in R2 from 0.79–0.99). There were strong linear relationships between the number of leaves/plant and growing degree-days (GDDs), using a base temperature of 7 °C (range in R2 from 0.81–0.99). In contrast, there was no relationship between the number of leaves/plant produced each day and average season daily mean temperature (15.7 °C to 17.8 °C) or radiation (13.0 to 15.9 MJ/m2/day) (R2 < 0.10). Potential yield as indicated by the dry weight of the flowers and immature fruit/plant increased up to 40 to 45 leaves/plant (R2 = 0.49 or 0.50) suggesting that the cultivars do not have excessive leaf production. There was no relationship between yield and the number of leaves/plant (R2 < 0.10) because rain before harvest damaged the fruit in some years. These results suggest that the development of new cultivars with more leaves/plant might increase cropping of strawberries growing in the subtropics.

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Fruit Quality and Yield in Partially Defoliated Strawberry Plants in the Tropical Highlands

Cited by 19 publications

References 19 publications

Effects of Insect Herbivory on Bilberry Production and Removal of Berries by Frugivores

Effects of Insect Herbivory on Bilberry Production and Removal of Berries by Frugivores

Foliar Applications of Biostimulants Promote Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Strawberry Plants Grown under Nutrient Limitation

No Evidence of Excessive Leaf Production by Strawberries Grown in the Subtropics

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