EVALUATION OF STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS GROWN UNDER A HIGH PLASTIC TUNNEL IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA

摘要

Commercial strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) production in Florida is almost all open field production; however, production under high clear-plastic tunnels has the advantage over open field culture of keeping leaves and fruit dry, thus eliminating rain damage to the fruit and reducing the potential for certain diseases. On 20 Oct. 2004, four cultivars currently important in west central Florida, 'Festival', 'Treasure', 'Camino Real', and 'Carmine', were planted in a 20 ft wide x 100 IMong x 12ft high tunnel at Dover, Florida. Ripe fruit were harvested twice weekly during December, January, and February. Data were collected on yield, fruit number, and incidence of fruit rots and arthropod pests. Cultivars differed significantly Infield, average fruit weight, and average number of aphids per leaf let.