Effect of different varieties and planting dates on growth and yield of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa)

Introduction

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) is an important high-value fruit crop belong to family Rosaceae. Although traditionally cultivated in temperate regions, its cultivation has expanded to subtropical and tropical. Strawberry fruits are highly appreciated for their

The experiment was laid out in factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications comprising three strawberry varieties, viz., Nabila (V₁), Camarosa (V₂) and Winter Dawn (V₃), and four planting dates, viz., 15 th October (S₁), 1 st November (S₂), 15 th November (S₃) and 1 st December (S₄), resulting in 12 treatment combinations. Runner plants were transplanted into 10' × 12' polybags filled with a growing medium consisting of cocopeat, perlite and vermicompost in a 3:1:1 (v/v). Plants were maintained at spacing of 30 × 30 cm. A recommended fertilizer dose of 75:60:80 kg ha⁻¹ NPK was applied, with 25% as basal dose and the remaining nutrients supplied through monthly drenching of water-soluble fertilizer (19:19:19) at 0.5 g L⁻¹. Observations on vegetative growth parameters, leaf area and number of leaves per plant, were recorded at 30 days after planting. Yield attributes such as number of flowers, fruit length and yield per plant were recorded during the harvesting period. The data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) following the procedure described by Panse and Sukhatme (1985) [12] .

Results and Discussion

Growth parameter Effect of varieties and planting dates on number of leaves per plant and leaf area:

The perusal of data (Table 1) revealed that at 30 DAP, the number of leaves per plant did not differ significantly among the varieties. Among the varieties V 3 (Winter Dawn) recorded the highest number of leaves per plant (5.86), followed by V 1 (Nabila) (5.53) and V 2 (5.49). Similarly, leaf area differed significantly among the varieties, with V 3 (Winter Dawn) recording the maximum leaf area (44.14 cm 2 ), Followed by V 1 (Nabila) (42.97 cm 2 ), while the minimum leaf area was recorded in V 2 (Camarosa) (38.10 cm 2 ). These findings are in agreement with those of Bhamini et al. (2017) [1] , Kousalya Bai et al. (2023) [7] and Gogoi et al. (2025) [4] , who reported significant varietal differences in vegetative growth parameters among strawberry cultivars, with Winter Dawn exhibiting superior vegetative growth under protected cultivation conditions. Planting date significantly influenced both the number of leaves and leaf area. Among the planting dates S 1 (15 th October) recorded the highest number of leaves per plant (7.28) and leaf area (68.85 cm 2 ), whereas S 4 (1 st December) recorded the lowest value (3.83 leaves per plant and 21.79 cm 2 , respectively). The highest leaf production and leaf area under early planting might be due to favourable temperature and photoperiod conditions, which promoted better plant establishment and early vegetative growth. These finding are in agreement with the observations of Bhamini et al. (2017) [1] , who reported better vegetative growth and higher leaf area under early planting conditions.

Interaction effect of variety and planting dates on number of leaves per plant and leaf area

The table 2 shows the interaction effect of varieties and planting dates on the number of leaves per plant was nonsignificant, whereas the interaction effect on leaf area was significant at 30 DAP. The maximum number of leaves per plant was recorded in V 3 S 1 (Winter Dawn planted of 15 th October) (7.63), followed by V 1 S 1 (Nabila planted on 15 th October) (7.20) and V 2 S 1 (Camarosa planted on 15 th October) (7.00). The minimum number of leaves per plant was observed in V 1 S 4 (Nabila planted on 1 st December) (3.13). In the case of leaf area V 1 S 4 (Winter Dawn planted on 15 th October) recorded the maximum leaf area (74.83 cm 2) , followed by V₁S₁ (Nabila planted on 15th October) (74.63 cm²), whereas the minimum leaf area was recorded in V₂S₄ (Camarosa planted on 1 st December) (16.77 cm²). The superior leaf area under the 15 th October planting, particularly in Winter Dawn, might be attributed to favourable environmental conditions during the early growth period which promoted better plant establishment, leaf expansion and vegetative growth. In contrast, delayed planting, particularly on 1 st December, resulted in reduced leaf area, possibly due to less favourable environmental conditions during the early growth phase.

Yield parameter Effect of different varieties and planting date on number of flowers per plant

The results pertaining in table 3 to the number of flowers and fruits per plant as influenced by different varieties and planting dates are presented in Tables 4.6. Among the varieties, V₁ (Nabila) recorded the highest number of flowers per plant (14.88) and fruits per plant (11.83), which were significantly superior to V₂ (Camarosa) and V₃ (Winter Dawn). The superior performance of Nabila may be attributed to its higher genetic potential and efficient assimilate partitioning towards reproductive growth. Similar findings on varietal differences in flowering, fruit number, and yield components in strawberry were reported by Neetu and Sharma (2018) [9] , Verma et al. (2018) [16] , Gaikwad et al. (2018) [3] , Panigrahi et al. (2019) [11] , Diwakar et al.

(2019) [2] , Verma et al. (2022) [15] , Karthikeyan et al. (2023) [5] , and Manivannan et al. (2024) [8] . Planting dates significantly influenced both parameters. S₂ (1 st November) recorded the maximum number of flowers (18.56) and fruits per plant (16.00), followed by S₁ (15 th October), whereas S₄ (1 st December) recorded the minimum number of flowers (7.44) and fruits per plant (4.96). The increased flower and fruit production under 1 st November planting may be attributed to favourable environmental conditions during flowering and fruit set. These findings are in agreement with the reports of Paul et al. (2017) [13] and Bhamini et al. (2017) [1] .

Effect of different varieties and planting date on fruit diameter and fruit length

The results pertaining to fruit size parameters, namely fruit length, as influenced by different varieties and planting dates are presented in Table 3. Among the varieties, fruit diameter was not significantly influenced by varietal differences; however, V₁ (Nabila) recording the maximum fruit length (4.32 cm), which was significantly superior to V₃ (Winter Dawn) (3.52 cm) and V₂ (Camarosa) (3.42 cm). The superior fruit size observed in Nabila may be attributed to its favourable genetic makeup, efficient translocation of photosynthates, and better sink strength of developing fruits. Similar findings were reported by Verma et al. (2018) [16] , Panigrahi et al. (2020) [10] , Verma et al. (2022) [15] , Karthikeyan et al. (2023) [5] , and Manivannan et al. (2024) [8] . Planting dates significantly influenced fruit length. S₁ (15 th October) recorded the maximum fruit length (4.20 cm). The minimum fruit length (3.27 cm) were observed under S₄ (1 st December). The larger fruit size under early planting may be attributed to favourable environmental conditions and lower fruit load, which enabled greater assimilate availability for individual fruit growth and development. These findings are in agreement with Bhamini et al. (2017) [1] and Sadiq and Kaur (2017) [14] .

Effect of different varieties and planting date on yield per plant

The results pertaining to yield per plant as influenced by different varieties and planting dates are presented in Table 3. Among the varieties, V₁ (Nabila) recorded the maximum yield per plant (207.19 g), which were significantly superior to V₃ (Winter Dawn) (170.72 g) and V₂ (Camarosa) (139.55 g). The higher yield observed in Nabila may be attributed to its superior genetic potential, efficient assimilate partitioning, and a better source-sink relationship. Similar findings were reported by Neetu and Sharma ( 2018 Planting dates significantly influenced both fruit weight and yield per plant. S₂ (1 st November) recorded the yield per plant (277.46 g), followed by S₁ (15 th October) (228.71 g, respectively), whereas S₄ (1 st December) recorded the minimum fruit weight yield per plant (55.86 g). The enhanced fruit weight and yield under 1 st November planting may be attributed to favourable environmental conditions during flowering and fruit development, which promoted better fruit set, assimilate accumulation, and biomass production. Similar findings were reported by Paul et al. (2017) [13] , Bhamini et al. (2017) [1] , and Sadiq and Kaur (2017) [14] .

Interaction effect of variety and planting dates on number of flowers per plant

The interaction effect between varieties and planting dates shows in table 2.2 significantly influenced the number of flowers per plant. Among the treatment combinations, V₁S₂ (Nabila planted on 1 st November) recorded the maximum number of flowers per plant (19.00), which was significantly superior to the other treatment combinations and remained at par with V₃S₂ (18.80). The minimum number of flowers per plant (6.43) was observed in V₂S₄ (Camarosa planted on 1 st December). The higher number of flowers and fruits under V₁S₂ may be attributed to the superior genetic potential of Nabila and favourable environmental conditions associated with 1 st November planting, which promoted better flowering, fruit set, and assimilate partitioning.

Interaction effect of variety and planting dates on fruit length

The interaction effect between varieties and planting dates presented in Table 4 revealed that fruit length was significantly influenced by the interaction between varieties and planting dates. Among the treatment combinations, V₁S₁ (Nabila planted on 15 th October) recorded the maximum fruit length (5.01 cm), which was significantly superior to the other treatment combinations, followed by V₁S₂ (Nabila planted on 1 st November) with 4.54 cm. The minimum fruit length (2.92 cm) was recorded in V₃S₄ (Winter Dawn planted on 1 st December). The superior fruit size under early planting of Nabila might be attributed to favourable environmental conditions, better plant establishment and efficient translocation of photosynthates towards developing fruits, resulting in enhanced fruit growth and elongation.

Interaction effect of variety and planting dates on yield per plant

The interaction effect between varieties and planting dates significantly influenced yield per plant, as presented in Table 4. Among the treatment combinations, V₁S₂ (Nabila planted on 1 st November) recorded the highest yield per plant (320.07 g), which was statistically at par with V₃S₂ (Winter Dawn planted on 1 st November) (306.06 g). The lowest yield per plant (47.91 g) was recorded in V₂S₄ (Camarosa planted on 1 st December). The higher yield observed in V₁S₂ might be attributed to the combined effect of the superior genetic potential of Nabila and favourable environmental conditions under 1 st November planting, which enhanced fruit development and overall yield accumulation.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that among the different strawberry varieties evaluated, Winter Dawn exhibited superior vegetative growth, whereas Nabila recorded the highest yield and better fruit quality attributes. Among the planting dates, 15 th October proved to be most favourable for vegetative growth, while 1 st November was found superior for obtaining higher yield. Winter Dawn planted on 15 th October was ideal for achieving vigorous vegetative growth whereas, Nabila planted on 1 st November was found most suitable for maximizing yield under 50% shade-net conditions in the agro-climatic conditions of middle Gujarat.

References

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