Linear Relationships Between Yield, Quality and Phenological Traits of Strawberry Cultivars

Abstract

The great economic importance attributed to strawberry cultivation raises the interest in cultivars of high productivity and superior fruit quality. The quality of fruit is the most impacting factor for the strawberry marketing, but selecting genotypes that combine high production and high fruit quality has been a difficult task. The objective of this study was to determine the linear relationships between phenological, quality and production variables of strawberry aiming at identifying potential variables for indirect selection in future selection processes of strawberry genotypes. A trial was conducted in a randomized block design with two cultivars and two transplant origins, grown in four types of substrate. Fifteen variables, including phenological, productive and fruit quality-related variables were assessed. The selected variables explained 45.2 and 39.1 % for PC1 and PC2 respectively, totaling 84.3 % of the total variance of the variables in the PCA, and indicated important relationships between the variables, and a path analysis revealed success for indirect selection of total mass of fruits based on the total number of fruits (0.81413). Changes in crop management that reduces the period between planting date and full flowering may be an alternative to increase the production of strawberry and provide fruits with higher quality.

Multivariate analysis methods improve the selection of strawberry genotypes with low cold requirement

“…In the present study, Ratio showed a moderate and positive phenotypic correlation with the mass of commercial fruits (0.52) and number of commercial fruits (0.53); however, when unfolding this correlation, a negative direct effect was observed, while the indirect effect was positive via NCF. In agreement with the present study, Diel 35 found a negative direct effect (− 0.10) and a positive indirect effect (0.15) of Ratio via the total number of fruits on the total fruit mass. Direct effects of the number of strawberry fruit on production per plant were also reported by Ara et al 36 and Garg 11 , while Sighn et al 37 stated that the greatest direct positive effects came from flower number and fruit length.…”

“…The average mass of commercial fruits (AMCF), which also had a medium and positive correlation (0.55) with the MCF, demonstrated in the path analysis that its indirect effect (0.29) on NCF is superior to the direct effect (0.25). Diel et al 35 found a direct effect of the total number of fruits (0.81), and an indirect effect of the mass of commercial fruits, via the total number of fruits (0.71), while the average fruit mass showed a direct relationship of 0.22. Authors results corroborate with our study and these positive findings suggest that direct selection via number of commercial fruits has a greater effect on yield and indirectly benefits the average mass of commercial fruits.…”

Multivariate Analysis Methods Improve The Selection Of Strawberry Genotypes With Low Cold Requirement

“…In the present study, Ratio showed a moderate and positive phenotypic correlation with the mass of commercial fruits (0.52) and number of commercial fruits (0.53); however, when unfolding this correlation, a negative direct effect was observed, while the indirect effect was positive via NCF. In agreement with the present study, Diel 32 found a negative direct effect (-0.10) and a positive indirect effect (0.15) of Ratio via the total number of fruits on the total fruit mass. Direct effects of the number of strawberry fruit on production per plant were also reported by Ara et al 33 and Garg 8 , while Sighn et al 34 stated that the greatest direct positive effects came from ower number and fruit length.…”

“…The average mass of commercial fruits (AMCF), which also had a medium and positive correlation (0.55) with the MCF, demonstrated in the path analysis that its indirect effect (0.29) on NCF is superior to the direct effect (0.25). Diel et al 32 found a direct effect of the total number of fruits (0.81), and an indirect effect of the mass of commercial fruits, via the total number of fruits (0.71), while the average fruit mass showed a direct relationship of 0.22.…”