Abstract/Summary

Conditions during the autumn (propagation phase), when plants are developing and flowers are initiated, impact upon subsequent fruit production in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.). Little is known about the best conditions in which to propagate strawberries, particularly for newly released cultivars from breeding programmes which often struggle to fulfil their yield potential when cropped in a commercial environment. The research presented in this thesis therefore aimed to examine the impact of crop management during the propagation phase on transplant growth, yield potential and the subsequent cropping performance of new Junebearer and Everbearer strawberry cultivars. Five experiments were conducted between September 2013 and 2016 to examine the impact of tipping date, daughter plant position and nitrogen concentration, winter chill accumulation, temperature and light intensity during plant propagation. At the end of the propagation phase for each experiment, a destructive harvest was carried out to analyse treatment effects on transplant growth and yield potential. In the following season, remaining plants were then cropped under conditions designed to replicate a commercial growing system so treatment effects on yield, yield components and cropping profiles could be determined. The results of the experiments confirmed that conditions during the propagation phase impact on the cropping performance of strawberry and showed that there is the potential improve strawberry yield by improving crop management during this important phase. Results also demonstrated that cropping profiles could be manipulated to enhance valuable early-season strawberry yield, which is an important goal in the soft fruit industry at present.