Horticultural Studies (HortiS) 2010, Vol 27, Num, 2     (Pages: 22-33)

EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT EC LEVELS ON THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF CAMAROSA STRAWBERRY

Nafiye ADAK 1

1 Akdeniz Üniversitesi Elmalı Meslek Yüksekokulu Seracılık Programı, Antalya Viewed : 1615 - Downloaded : 2712 Potted type of Camarosa strawberries were used as plant material in this research. The effects of different EC levels on the yield and quality of strawberries grown on peat and cocopeat medium were evaluated. Therefore, strawberry seedling were exposed to plant nutrition applications having 1.4 mS cm-1, 1.6 mS cm-1, 1.8 mS cm-1 and 2.0 mS cm-1 EC levels during vegetative growth those of which EC levels were applied to peat and cocopeat medium separately. As a result, stem diameter showed an increase in relation to increased EC levels whereas leaf number resulted in a decrease. Moreover, the highest and the earliest yield were taken from the plants exposed to 1.8 mS cm-1 and 2.0 mS cm-1 EC levels. Earliness and the highest yield did not show any significant response between the growing medium. The color of fruit exocarp, L, a, b, C and h value were effected insignificantly by the different EC levels as well as different growing medium, but dept of exocarp color increased by the elevated EC levels. Further, fruit flesh hardness, calics removal resistance and total soluble solid showed an parallel increase in elevated EC levels. The most suitable EC levels was found to be 1.8 mS cm-1 in cocopeat medium in terms of plant growth and development. Keywords : Strawberry, Camarosa, Growing medium, EC levels