Abstract
The partial loss or reduction of leaf area is a wide-spread occurrence in the plant life cycle, caused e.g. by herbivory, stress or pathogen attack. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of partial defoliation on fruit production and quality in strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch. cv. Chandler). Plants were grown in a greenhouse in Tunja, Colombia, in hydroponics with an aerated nutrient solution. As leaves emerged, one or two leaflets were removed from each compound leaf, to attain 38 % and 67 % reduction of leaf area. Control plants grew intact, without defoliation. Fruit yield and fruit quality characteristics were evaluated for each plant. The pH, total soluble solids, ratio of total soluble solids to fruit juice acidity, fruit yield, fruit mass and size, and the ratio of leaf area/fruit yield were reduced drastically in defoliated plants. Leaf area reduction in excess of 38 % adversely affected physical and chemical characteristics of strawberry fruit, which did not meet marketing criteria.
Zusammenfassung
Im Laufe ihres Lebens sind Pflanzen oft einer teilweisen Reduzierung ihrer Blattfläche ausgesetzt. Die Ursachen können unterschiedlicher Natur sein, wie etwa Herbivorie, Pathogenbefall oder Stress. Um den Effekt einer Teilentlaubung auf den Ertrag und Furchtqualität von Erdbeeren (Fragaria × ananassa) der Sorte Chandler zu untersuchen, wurde ein Gewächshausversuch in Tunja/Kolumbien durchgeführt. Die Pflanzen wuchsen in Hydrokultur mit belüfteter Nährlösung. Ein oder zwei Fiederblättchen jedes neuen dreiteiligen Laubblattes wurden entfernt. So wurde die Blattfläche um 38 % oder 67 % reduziert. Die Kontrollpflanzen blieben intakt ohne Entlaubung. Der Ertrag und die Qualitätseigenschaften der Früchte wurden untersucht: Die lösliche Trockensubstanz, der pH-Wert, das Zucker/Säure Verhältnis, das Fruchtgewicht, die Fruchtgröße und das Blattfläche/Ertragverhältnis sanken stark durch die Entlaubung. Daraus wurde geschlossen, dass eine Abnahme der Blattfläche über 38 % den Ertrag und die physikalisch- und chemischen Eigenschaften der Früchte reduziert. Außerdem erreichten die Früchte teil-entblätterter Pflanzen nicht die geforderte Vermarktungsqualität.
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Acknowledgements
The team gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Research Directorate (Dirección de Investigaciones-DIN) of the Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia (UPTC) for providing us with the funding and opportunity to conduct this research project. We also gratefully acknowledge matching support from the members of the Research Group in Plant Ecophysiology (Grupo Ecofisiología Vegetal) of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the UPTC.
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Casierra-Posada, F., Torres, I.D. & Blanke, M.M. Fruit Quality and Yield in Partially Defoliated Strawberry Plants in the Tropical Highlands. Gesunde Pflanzen 65, 107–112 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-013-0303-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-013-0303-8