Effect of substrates on strawberry (fragaria ananassa duch.) runner production and growth under greenhouse conditions

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1 2017 RELS ISSN: Res. Environ. Life Sci. 10(4) (2017) Effect of substrates on strawberry (fragaria ananassa duch.) runner production and growth under greenhouse conditions Vivek Beniwal* and Anil Kumar Godara Department of Horticuture, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana , India * (Received: July 30, 2016; Revised received: December 22, 2016; Accepted: December 27, 2016) Abstract: The experiment was conducted to standardize the appropriate growing media viz., sand, normal soil and artificial media like cocopeat, perlite and vermiculite in different proportions (by volume) for propagation of strawberry mother plant and runner production under greenhouse condition. The initiation of runner was early (27.05 days) and the number of strawberry runners per plant was maximum (12.92) under sand. Spread of the mother plant increased significantly with time and found maximum (79.11 cm) under sand. Height of crown and diameter of runner crown was increased significantly with time and found maximum under cocopeat + vermiculite + perlite (3:1:1, 7.44 mm) and cocopeat + vermiculite (3:1, 4.22 mm) respectively. Other growth parameters like plant height, spread of the runner plant and number of leaves per runner were better under growing media cocopeat and cocopeat + vermiculite. Key words: Strawberry, Propagation, Ofra, Runner, Green house Introduction The cultivated strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) is a monoecious octoploid hybrid of two largely dioecious octoploid species, Fragaria chiloensis Duch. and Fragaria virginiana Duch. (Darrow, 1966). Strawberry is usually propagated through runners. The stolon, a creeping stalk, is produced in the leaf axil of the plant and grows out from the parent plant during the summer. At the second node, a runner plant is formed and a new stolon arises on the runner plant to continue the runner train that often branches. Thus the plant propagates naturally itself by the vegetative method of runner production (Childers et al, 1995). Presently availability of good quality plant material of a required cultivar in a large quantity is a major limitation in expansion of strawberry cultivation in northern India. The difficulty and cost of controlling soil borne pests and diseases, soil salinity, lack of fertile soil, water shortage, lack of space etc., have led to the development of substrates for soilless cultivation (Olympious, 1992). So there is urgent need to find an alternative of these problems. Soilless culture may play a vital role in producing disease free and healthy planting material. Soilless substrates are used in horticulture for growing seedlings, plant propagation and ornamental plant production. The basic requirement for plant growing media are excellent chemical resistance properties, light weighted, inexpensive, free of pests and diseases and abundant in source materials (Ercisli et al., 2005). Using different organic and inorganic substrate gives the plant an opportunity of the best nutrient absorption and proper growth, water consumption optimization and oxygen maintenance. Also, substrate has a direct effect on root systems development and performance. Therefore, choosing the substrate among several materials is necessary for producing the plants (Tabatabaei and Rezaei, 2006). Cocopeat and perlite substrate is effective in root development due to better interchange of the elements especially cations inside the substrate and proper moist distribution that finally affects root system and plant growth (Nourizadeh, 2003). The substrates that can be used for growing strawberry includes cocopeat, perlite, vermiculite, vermi-compost, dry leaves, coir dust and sand etc. because of their special feature supporting plant growth and development. Cocopeat is an organic material with medium ion absorption capacity and it has aerial porosity and good capacity of water and nutrient maintenance and it can be the best substrate for planting summer crops, flowers and strawberry (Schie, 1999). Cocopeat is a good replacement for peat due to lower price, capability of water absorption, more suitable ph and provides enough aeration for proper root development (Chamani, 2001). Perlite is a proper cultivation environment from providing enough air points of view. Porosity existence in perlite provides aerial and gas interchanges in media easily, so it reforms soil airing and watering systems and improves ventilation function in the soil. Perlite contains rich inorganic materials such as ferrous, calcium and other rare minerals (Djedidi et al., 1999). Zaller (2007) used vermicompost substrate as substitute for peat and the result of his experiment showed the biomass allocation (root: shoot ratio), morphological and chemical fruit parameter were also significantly affected. The objective of the present study was to study the effect of different substrates on growth of mother plants and runner production of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) under protected condition. Research in Environment and Life Sciences 334

2 Materials and Methods The experiment was conducted at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana during with the objective of standardizing the appropriate substrate for the multiplication of strawberry under greenhouse condition and to produce maximum number of healthy runners of strawberry. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) comprising six treatments i.e. : Normal soil (sandy loam); : Sand; : Cocopeat; : Cocopeat + Perlite (3:1); : Cocopeat + Vermiculite (3:1); : Cocopeat + Vermiculite + Perlite (3:1:1) with four replications. The cultivar used in experiment is Ofra and plants per unit are ten. Strawberry plants are planted in different substrate in the month of July at 1m x 1m spacing under Hi-tech greenhouse. Different media including sand, normal soil and artificial media in different proportions (by volume) are used for propagation of mother plant. The greenhouse constructed with steel pipes covered with 200 micron ultraviolet sterilized polyethylene sheet. For providing requisite sunlight, movable shade nets were also fitted in the greenhouse. Fan-pad cooling system is also fitted for maintaining temperature. The greenhouse has the micro irrigation system (drip and micro-jet) for automated fertigation and climate control. Greenhouse is also equipped with foggers to control relative humidity. The observations are recorded at fortnightly interval up to October. The numbers of plants survived after 35 days of planting on the basis of total plants planted were counted in order to work out the survival (%). Initiation of runners is calculated from the date of planting to the average of different days of start of runner formation. The spread of the mother plant and runner is recorded in cm by measuring the distance covered by the plant in East-West and North-South directions and mean of sum per plant is calculated. Five runners in each replication are randomly selected for measuring the spread of the runner. Height of crown is recorded in mm with the help of vernier calliper from the base of the plant. The height of plant is recorded in cm with the help of meter rod from the best of the plant to the maximum height attained by the plant. Five runners in each replication are randomly selected for measuring the number of leaves per runners. The number of leaves per runner are counted and the averaged. Diameter is calculated in mm by measuring the width of crown. Five runners in each replication are randomly selected for measuring their diameter in mm with the help of veneers caliper and the averaged. Number of runners per plant is calculated by counting the number of runners per plant and then averaged. The statistical method described by Panse and Sukatme (1967) was followed for analysis and interpretation of the experimental results. In order to evaluate comparative performance of the various treatments, the data were analyzed by the technique of analysis of variance described by Fisher (1958). All the tests of significance were made at 5% level of the significance. Results and Discussion The data presented (Table 1) revealed that the results pertaining to the percentage survival was maximum (100%) in, and after 35 days of planting. Minimum numbers of days (27.05) were taken for the initiation of runner in followed by. Maximum numbers of days (39.1) were taken for the initiation of runner in. This may be due to better temperature conditions in root zone because of faster evaporation. Nourizadeh (2003) obtained that coco-peat and perlite substrate is effective in root due to better interchange of the elements especially cations inside the substrate and proper moist distribution that finally affects root system and survival of plants. The data (Table 2) on the effect of different media under greenhouse conditions on spread of the mother plant along with runners was maximum and significantly more spread was observed under (79.11 cm), (76.16 cm) and (69.76 cm). The spread of strawberry plant increased significantly with the increase in days after planting and the maximum (95.49) spread was recorded after 110 days of planting. The data presented (Table 3) revealed that the results pertaining to the height of crown was significantly different under different media as compared to. Maximum and significant increase was observed when (7.32) and (7.44) media were used as compared to. The height of crown was better due to aeration, organic matter content and cation exchange capacity. Table-1: Effect of different growing media on survival (%) and number of days taken for initiation of runner of strawberry plant cultivar Ofra under greenhouse conditions Survival Numbers of days taken for initiation (%) of runner after planting Table-2: Effect of different growing media on spread (cm) of the mother plant along with runners at different intervals of time under greenhouse conditions Mean CD at 5% Intervals 2.98 Media 2.98 Research in Environment and Life Sciences 335

3 Fig. 1: Normal soil Fig. 2: Cocopeat + Perlite Fig. 3: Cocopeat + Vermiculite Fig. 4: Cocopeat Table-3: Effect of different growing media on height of crown (mm) per plant at different intervals of time under greenhouse conditions Mean CD at 5% Intervals 0.42 Media 0.42 The height of plant (Table 4) increased significantly and found maximum when grown under (11.17) and (10.66). As the time period increased, the height of plant also increased significantly and the maximum (15.49) was recorded after 110 days of planting. It is gotten may be due to the soilless substrates improves the water and nutrient consumption and maintain porosity. The significant difference in the plant height has been reported in different varieties at different plant nutrition level (Reshi et al., 2007). The number of leaves per runner (Table 5) increased significantly on all the artificial media as compared to and. The maximum number of leaves were recorded under (4.07) and (3.52). Results were obtained by growing strawberry in different growing media Research in Environment and Life Sciences 336

4 Table-4: Effect of different growing media on height of plant (cm) at different intervals of time under greenhouse conditions Table-5: Effect of different growing media on number of leaves per runners plant at different intervals of time under greenhouse conditions Mean CD at 5% Intervals 0.10 Media 0.10 Table-6: Effect of different growing media on spread of the runner plant (cm) at different intervals of time under greenhouse conditions Mean CD at 5% Intervals 1.28 Media 1.28 Table-7: Effect of different growing media on diameter of crown of runners (mm) at different intervals of time under greenhouse conditions Mean CD at 5% Intervals 0.15 Media Mean CD at 5% Intervals 0.12 Media 0.12 under greenhouse conditions (Palomaki et al., 2002). The growth and development of plants were affected by aeration, organic matter content, ph, temperature and cation exchangeable capacity (Kacar, 1989). As perlite and vermiculite contains no organic matter, cocopeat and their mixtures with perlite gave promising results. The maximum and significantly more spread of strawberry runners (Table 6) was observed under (10.23), (10.20) and (10.05). Ercisli et al. (2005) studied spread in two cultivars and found better results under fine peat and peat media. The results were affected by growth media and better results were found under, and. The spread of the runner plant increased significantly and maximum (18.41) was recorded after 110 days of planting. This is may be due to the substrate cause better exchange of elements especially cations inside the substrate and they distribute Research in Environment and Life Sciences 337

5 Table-8: Effect of different growing media on number of strawberry runners per plant at different intervals of time under greenhouse conditions Mean CD at 5% Intervals 1.54 Media 1.54 humidity properly around the root zone and it is finally effective in plant growth (Kacar, 1989). The maximum diameter of runner crown (Table 7) was observed under (4.22) followed by (4.04) and (4.02). The diameter of runner crown was increased significantly with the increase in the number of days after planting. The diameter of runner crown was more than 4mm on artificial media after 80 days of planting, whereas it was recorded after 95 days of planting on and. The minimum diameter (1.65 mm) was recorded 35 days after planting and the maximum (6.38) after 110 days of planting. The maximum (8.17 mm) crown diameter was recorded on after 110 days planting followed by (7.23 mm) after 110 days of planting. The diameter was found better under due to higher accumulation of metabolites. Ghazvini et al. (2007) reported that the ratio of perlite/ zeolite 3:1 and 1:1 increased number of crown per plants significantly. The data (Table 8) shows that the maximum number of runner per plant was recorded under (12.92) followed by (9.52). The number of runners increased significantly with the increase in number of days after planting and found maximum (15.67) after 110 days of planting. Similar results were found growing strawberry cultivars under different media under glasshouse by Ercisli et al., The maximum number of runners (26.92) was counted on after 110 days of planting followed by same media after 95 days of planting. Better results were found under, and. Strawberry showed different responses to ecological conditions (Paydas and Kaska, 1992). It is concluded that sand as growing medium resulted in early initiation of runner, maximum number of strawberry runners per plant and increased spread of the mother plant. Height of crown and diameter of runner crown were maximum under cocopeat + vermiculite + perlite and cocopeat + vermiculite, respectively. Other growth parameters like plant height, spread of the runner plant and number of leaves per runner were better under growing media cocopeat and cocopeat + vermiculite. References Chamani, A.: Effect of soluble food and planting substrates on the quality and quantity of cut flower Jrbra. M.Sc. Theses on Horticulture. Tehran University, Iran (2001). Childers, N.F., Morris, J.R. and Sibbeti, G.S.: Modern Fruit Science, Horticulture Publication, Gainesuiella, Florida, USA (1995). Darrow, G.M.: The strawberry: History, Breeding and Physiology. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York, Chapter 20 (1966). Djedidi, M.D., Gerasopoulos and E. Maloupa, E.: The effect of different substrates on the quality of F. carmello tomatoes (Lycopersicom esculentum Mill.) grown under protection in a hydroponic system. Cashier Option Mediterrannneees, 31: (1999). 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