ISHS Acta Horticulturae 450: International Symposium Growing Media and Plant Nutrition in Horticulture
EFFECT OF COPPER CONCENTRATION IN THE NUTRIENT SOLUTION ON THE GROWTH OF STRAWBERRIES IN PEAT AND PERLITE |
| Author: | F. Lieten |
| Keywords: | copper, substrate culture, Fragaria ananassa |
| Abstract:
Plants of the shortday strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch. 'Elsanta') were grown on perlite. A balanced nutrient solution containing 0.5 μmol/l Cu was applied continuously. Uptake and translocation of Cu was studied. More than 65 % of the Cu was located in the roots. Crowns and leaf blades each represented 10 % while only 0.5 % was located in the flowers. In a second trial strawberry plants were established on peat bags with three rates of Cu in the nutrient solution : 0.5 μmol/l, 2.5 μmol/l and 5.0 μmol/l. Higher Cu concentrations in the nutrient solution resulted in accumulation of Cu in leaves and roots, substrate and percolate. However, increased Cu levels had no significant effect on the pollen germination, fruit set, fruit size and subsequent yield. The results indicate that 0.5 μmol Cu per liter nutrient solution is sufficient to obtain satisfactory growth and fruit quality of 'Elsanta' strawberry. | |
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