Vol. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

Author(s):
FA Khan, Saima Fayaz, Zaffar M Dar, FU Khan, Mohammad Amir, Astha, and Moinuddin

Abstract:
Most of the commonly cultivated varieties of strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa) produce “runners” as a means of propagating themselves. However, production of more runners on strawberry plant means that plants are turning valuable buds to develop runners instead of extended crowns (new shoots) or flower clusters. Under optimum growing conditions, runner production should be minimum or none during fruit production. Removal of runners in strawberry is a key crop management practice to balance sink/source and vegetative/reproductive growth. Runners are also removed to prevent allocation of photoassimilates to these unwanted sink organs. Since it is a recommended but costly practice in strawberry production system, use of prohexadone-calcium for suppressing runner production or development of an automation system for the cutting of runners may be think of for large scale strawberry production.