ISHS Acta Horticulturae 287: II International Symposium on Protected Cultivation of Vegetables in Mild Winter Climates
BORON REQUIREMENTS OF STRAWBERRY (FRAGARIA ANANASSA L. CV. DOUGLAS) GROWN IN HYDROPONIC CULTURE |
| Authors: | A. Gárate, M. Manzanares, A.M. Ramón, R.O. Carpena-Ruiz |
| Abstract:
Knowledge of the micronutrient requirements of strawberries is rather scarce. This plant species is considered to have low sensitivity to boron deficiency. In our work several aspects of B requirements of Fragaria ananassa L. cv. Douglas have been studied. Strawberries were grown in an automated greenhouse and in aerated nutrient solution with (+B) and without (-B) boron supply. The experiment started when fresh plants were transferred from the nursery to 4-litres pots (5 plants per pot) following the cultivation steps of a typical commercial production in Spain. Plant material (shoot and root) was sampled every two weeks after a gap of one month. Simultaneously, nutrient solutions were analyzed and renewed. B concentration in the nutrient solutions of both +B and -B increased during the 2-weeks period of culture. This increase was initially high but became smaller in successive periods. Boron content was higher in +B leaves than in -B ones. Nevertheless neither visual symptoms of B deficiency, nor reduction in growth and yield were observed in -B plants during the 4 months of the experiment. The lower boron concentration of young leaves in comparison with older ones would suggest a continuous supply of B from the root and a weak capacity of redistribution of the microelement via the phloem. In conclusion it appears that the large amount of boron stored mostly in the root at the beginning of the assay would be sufficient to cover the low B requirements of the strawberry plant studied. | |
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