Performance evaluation of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cultivars for growth, yield and fruit quality under subtropical, sub-montane regions of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted at the Regional Horticultural Research and Training Station (RHRTS), Dhaulakuan, District Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh, to evaluate the performance of different strawberry cultivars under sub-tropical climatic conditions. Four strawberry cultivars, namely Winter Dawn, Sweet Charlie, Camarosa, and San Andreas, were studied for their growth, yield, and fruit quality attributes. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. Healthy and uniform runners were planted during the third week of October on raised beds covered with silver polyethylene mulch under a double-row hill system. Observations were recorded on vegetative growth, flowering, yield parameters, and fruit quality traits. Among the cultivars, Sweet Charlie recorded the maximum plant height (15.53 cm), whereas the maximum plant spread (27.15 cm) and highest number of leaves per plant (25.20) were observed in San Andreas. The highest number of flowers (22.23) and fruits per plant (14.40) were recorded in Camarosa. Camarosa also exhibited the highest number of runners per plant (10.10), maximum fruit weight (9.06 g), fruit length (41.90 mm), and fruit yield per plant (198.10 g). However, San Andreas recorded the highest total soluble solids (10.23 °Brix) and total sugars (6.23%), indicating superior fruit sweetness. The highest ascorbic acid content (48.53 mg/100 g) was recorded in Camarosa. The findings of this study will be useful for selecting suitable strawberry cultivars for commercial cultivation in the region.