Study on strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) varieties for growth, fruit bio-chemical and yield parameters under western malwa plateau conditions of Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

A research trial was carried out in the experimental field of Department of fruit science, KNK College of Horticulture Mandsaur Madhya Pradesh during the year 2017-2018 to evaluate some strawberry varieties in sub-tropical region (Wastern Malwa Plateau condition) of Madhya Pradesh. The runners of 12 strawberry varieties i.e., viz. V1 (Northwest), V2 (Tioga), V3 (Pajaro), V4 (Seascape), V5 (Fern), V6 (Chandler), V7 (Shimla Delicious), V8 (No.5), V9 (Dil Pasand), V10 (Larson), V11 (Torrey) and V12 (Sweet Charlie) were planted at 30x30cm apart on the ridge beds at end of October. The design of experiment was Randomized block design (RBD). The results of the study indicated that out of the varieties tried, the strawberry variety V6 (Chandler) proved to be the best in producing maximum plant height (14.27cm), leaf length (7.70cm), leaf width (12.08cm) except the number of runner(s) per plant. The number of runner(s) per plant was recoded in variety V8 (No.5) 5.53 runner(s) per plant. The best result in 12 strawberry varieties of biochemical characters was found in variety V6 (Chandler) proved to be the best in producing lowest fruit acidity (0.98) and highest pectin (0.47%), higher ascorbic acid (56.67mg), however highest TSS (14.040B) were found in variety V9 (Dil Pasand) and maximum reducing sugar (4.80) was recoded in variety V12 (Sweet Charlie). The maximum yield (17250.22kg) was recoded in variety V6 (Chandler) which was statistically at par with variety V12 (Sweet Charlie) 15103.56kg. Based on the experimental findings it was concluded that variety V6 (Chandler) and V12 (Sweet Charlie) be recommended as best variety under the Wastern Malwa Plateau condition of Madhya Pradesh.