Full Length Research Paper

Efficacy of highland production of strawberry transplants

Jiwei Ruan¹, Cheol-Soo Yoon¹, Young-Rog Yeoung¹*, Kirk D. Larson² and Liz Ponce³

¹Department of Plant Sciences, Kangnung National University, Kangnung 210-702, Korea.

²South Coast R.E.C, University of California-Davis, CA, U.S.A.

³Lassen Canyon Nursery, Redding, CA, U.S.A.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: yryeoung@kangnung.ac.kr. Tel: 82-33-640-2356. Fax: 82-33-640-2909.

Accepted 16 March, 2009

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of propagation environment (high and low elevation) on runner productivity and quality of ‘Maehyang’ and ‘Red Pearl’ strawberry cultivars. Two propagation methods (bare root plants and plug plants) were used for both environments. Regardless of cultivar or propagation method, runners produced at high-elevation had significantly greater crown diameter, and root and whole plant dry weights, and carbohydrate accumulation tended to be greater in runners from the highland. The high elevation site was more effective for producing high quality strawberry runners than the low-elevation site.

Key words: Strawberry, bare root plant, carbohydrates, high-elevation nursery, low elevation nursery, plant quality, plug plants.