Abstract
Abstract In many parts of the world, strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa ) plants are commonly defoliated after fruiting to promote photosynthesis in the remaining leaves and to enhance floral initiation and further development of flower initials. We studied the effect of foliage mowing conducted at different times after harvest on ‘Polka’ strawberry floral development and yield in two consecutive years. Field trials were carried out on two strawberry farms in Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland, between 62°58′ N and 62°69′ N. The foliage mowing treatments were applied at different times between 20 July and 13 August. The effects on the crown carbohydrate reserves, flowering and yield were recorded. Flower mapping analysis was used to evaluate the treatment effects on floral development in the fall. The effects of foliage mowing at different times on ‘Polka’ strawberry generative development were relatively small but consistent. The SPAD value of the leaves increased on one farm through early mowing, but crown carbohydrate reserves were not increased by removing old foliage. The earliest mowing reduced crown branching and increased the number of flowers in the inflorescence. The late mowing interfered with floral development, as it decreased the number of inflorescence initials and either delayed floral induction or retarded floral development after induction, as observed through flower mapping analysis. Mowing also decreased the number of flowers and fruits per plant on one farm, which led to a non-significant trend towards larger fruit. In conclusion, mowing off old foliage as soon as possible after harvest can be recommended, but late mowing should be avoided, as it interferes with floral induction or floral development during the fall. Significance of the study What is already known on this subject? Defoliating strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa ) after fruiting may enhance flower initiation and further development of floral initials by promoting photosynthesis in the remaining leaves and results in higher fruit yield. However, the challenge at the northern latitudes is the relatively narrow time window for carrying out this practice between the termination of harvest and the time of floral initiation. What are the new findings? The earliest mowing at the end of July reduced crown branching and increased the number of flowers in the inflorescence. Mowing may also decrease the number of flowers and fruit per plant and thereby increase fruit size. The late mowing interfered with floral development, as it decreased the number of inflorescence initials and either delayed floral induction or retarded floral development after induction, as observed through flower mapping analysis. What are the expected impacts on horticulture? In the northern climate, mowing off old strawberry foliage as soon as possible after harvest can be recommended, while late mowing should be avoided, as it interferes with floral induction or floral development during the fall.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
Mowing time had relatively small but consistent effects on Polka strawberry generative development.
- Taxon
- strawberry
_single2.jpg?width=60)
Fragaria ×ananassae0 - Material
- ‘Polka’e0
- Treatment
- foliage mowing at different timese0
- Outcome
- generative developmente0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_single2.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“The effects of foliage mowing at different times on ‘Polka’ strawberry generative development were relatively small but consistent.”
Claim · model-written summary
Early mowing increased leaf SPAD on one farm.
- Taxon
- strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )Fragaria ×ananassat0
- Organ / stage
- leavese0
- Treatment
- early mowinge0
- Outcome
- SPAD valuee0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Qualifier
- one farme0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The SPAD value of the leaves increased on one farm through early mowing”
t0“strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )”
Claim · model-written summary
Removing old foliage did not increase crown carbohydrate reserves.
- Taxon
- strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )Fragaria ×ananassat0
- Treatment
- removing old foliagee0
- Outcome
- crown carbohydrate reservese0
- Direction
- not increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“crown carbohydrate reserves were not increased by removing old foliage”
t0“strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )”
Claim · model-written summary
Earliest mowing reduced crown branching.
- Taxon
- strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )Fragaria ×ananassat0
- Treatment
- earliest mowinge0
- Outcome
- crown branchinge0
- Direction
- reducede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The earliest mowing reduced crown branching”
t0“strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )”
Claim · model-written summary
Earliest mowing increased flower number per inflorescence.
- Taxon
- strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )Fragaria ×ananassat0
- Outcome
- number of flowers in the inflorescencee0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedTreatmentComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The earliest mowing reduced crown branching and increased the number of flowers in the inflorescence.”
t0“strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )”
Claim · model-written summary
Late mowing decreased inflorescence initials.
- Taxon
- strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )Fragaria ×ananassat0
- Treatment
- late mowinge0
- Outcome
- number of inflorescence initialse0
- Direction
- decreasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The earliest mowing reduced crown branching and increased the number of flowers in the inflorescence. The late mowing interfered with floral development, as it decreased the number of inflorescence initials”
t0“strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )”
Claim · model-written summary
Late mowing either delayed floral induction or retarded development after induction.
- Taxon
- strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )Fragaria ×ananassat0
- Outcome
- floral induction or retarded floral development after inductione0
- Direction
- delayede0
Not reportedTreatmentComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The earliest mowing reduced crown branching and increased the number of flowers in the inflorescence. The late mowing interfered with floral development, as it decreased the number of inflorescence initials and either delayed floral induction or retarded floral development after induction”
t0“strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )”
Claim · model-written summary
Mowing decreased flower and fruit number per plant on one farm.
- Taxon
- strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )Fragaria ×ananassat0
- Treatment
- Mowinge0
- Outcome
- number of flowers and fruits per plante0
- Direction
- decreasede0
- Qualifier
- one farme0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Mowing also decreased the number of flowers and fruits per plant on one farm”
t0“strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )”
Claim · model-written summary
Mowing showed a nonsignificant trend toward larger fruit.
- Taxon
- strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )Fragaria ×ananassat0
- Outcome
- fruite0
- Direction
- largere0
Not reportedTreatmentComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“a non-significant trend towards larger fruit”
t0“strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )”
Claim · model-written summary
Authors recommend mowing old foliage soon after harvest.
- Taxon
- strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )Fragaria ×ananassat0
- Outcome
- mowing off old foliage as soon as possible after harveste0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“mowing off old foliage as soon as possible after harvest can be recommended”
t0“strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )”
Claim · model-written summary
Authors recommend avoiding late mowing because it interferes with fall floral development.
- Taxon
- strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )Fragaria ×ananassat0
- Outcome
- late mowing should be avoidede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“In conclusion, mowing off old foliage as soon as possible after harvest can be recommended, but late mowing should be avoided, as it interferes with floral induction or floral development during the fall.”
t0“strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )”
The same questions in other papers
pruning · yield · Fragaria x ananassa (strawberry)Results differ
12 papers in the same direction as this paper · 5 in the opposite direction
- positive
- positive
- positive
14 papers more in this group
See all 18 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.