Morpho-physiological performance of seven short-day and day-neutral strawberry cultivars in the soilless culture

Strawberry cultivation requires the use of cultivars adapted to the field or greenhouse conditions of the production region. Seven commercial of short day (SD) and day neutral (DN) strawberry cultivars (Camarosa, Kurdistan, Mrak, Paros, Queen Elisa, Selva, Ventana) were compared as a completely randomized design for different morpho-physiological characters under greenhouse conditions. The cultivars showed variation for all of the studied traits. Days to flowering varied from 53.2 to 94.5 days among the cultivars and Paros followed by Camarosa required minimum days for flowering. The highest total chlorophyll content and fruit volume were obtained in Camarosa and Paros, while the highest fruit weight was found in Paros, Ventana, Camarosa and Kurdistan. The cultivar Camarosa produced the highest of flower number (42.0), fruit number (36.3), fruit firmness (4.8 N) and yield (424.7 g per plant). The TSS/TA ratio was observed maximum in Paros and minimum in Ventana and Mrak. The highest of fruit anthocyanin was recorded in Camarosa and Selva. Correlation analysis revealed that yield per plant had a positive correlation with total chlorophyll content of leaves, number of flower and fruit, weight and volume of fruit, while negatively correlated to leaf area and crown number. According to stepwise multiple regression analysis, yield had the highest relationship with the number of flowers and fruit weight, respectively. Generally, vegetative traits as well as days to flowering and fruiting were higher in DN cultivars (Mrak, Selva). However, SD cultivars produced higher flower number, fruit size and yield than DN cultivars. The cultivars Camarosa and Paros were most adapted to the greenhouse conditions among the experimental cultivars.