Effect of different Substrates and Varieties on Yield and Quality of Strawberry in Soilless Culture

Abstract

Most growing media for strawberries in soilless culture are peat moss, rockwool, coir, perlite or some other mixtures. Nowadays, using mixture of peat moss and perlite is one of the mostly used substrate for production of hydroponic strawberries in developing countries. The effects of three different media based on 100%: 0, 80%: 20% and 60%: 40% v/v perlite and peat moss were evaluated on quantity and quality of three varieties of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) in soilless culture. Perlite/ peat moss substrate 100%:0% ratio (v/v) produced the most number of leaves and flowers number and the number of fruits and fruit dry weight were the highest in both substrates of 100%:0 and 60%:40% perlite/peat moss. Fresno variety had the highest number of leaves production between three studied varietie., However, both Fresno and Selva had the highest number of fruits and fruit dry weight and the difference between these two varieties were not significant. All in all, the results showed that based on the goals of planting strawberries, both Fresno and Selva varieties and also 100%:0 and 60%:40% perlite/peat moss are the best ones in production of strawberries in Iran