Cool storage and post-storage treatment of strawberry runners for summer planting

Abstract

Winter dug strawberry runners of the cultivar Red Gauntlet were stored in sealed or ventilated polyethylene bags at -2.2°C for 63 months. After storage and before planting, runners received post storage treatments at 256°C. Crown and root growth occurred where treatment duration at 25.6°C exceeded two days. This did not adversely affect vigour in the field after planting, but did reduce fruit yield in the autumn crop. Pre-storage benomyl dusting reduced mould infection after cool storage and before planting. Crown and root growth and weight loss was reduced where runners were contained in sealed polyethylene bags, and significantly higher fruit yield was subsequently obtained from these treatments.