Journal of Bio-Environment Control ISSN:1229-4675(Print) 2765-3641(Online) 생물환경조절학회지

This study aimed to examine the effect of different fruit-loads on fruit yield, quality, and plant growth of ‘Seolhyang’ strawberry. Fruit loads were adjusted from the first to the fourth flower cluster so that the number of fruits became 20, 25, and 30, and non-flower thinning of some was made. The more the number of fruits per plant was, the greater the total yield obtained, but marketable yield decreased and non-marketable yield increased. Compared to the treatment whose fruit load was adjusted, the control with non-flower thinning had more fruit yield in the first and second flower clusters but tended to have less fruit yield in the third and fourth flower clusters. The lower the fruit load was, the more soluble solids content of fruits increased. The lower the fruit load of a flower cluster was, the faster its harvest time reached. Harvest of fruit load of 20 was faster by 10 days in the second and fourth flower clusters relative to the control. On November 24, 2012, flowering thinning of the first flower cluster was made. On March 7, 2013, fruit dry weight of the second flower cluster was most heavy in the control. Dry weight of roots decreased in the control and the fruit load of 30 compared to November 24. On April 9, fruit dry weight of the third flower cluster did not have significant difference according to fruit load, however the more the fruit load was, the smaller dry weight of leaf, root, and crown became, which were vegetative organs. On May 12, the more the fruit load, the smaller leaf area and dry weight of vegetative organs and differences from varying fruit-loads became considerable in later period of growth. Appropriate fruit load of ‘Seolhyang’ strawberry were from 20 to 25. Maintaining balance between vegetative and fruit growth by adjusting fruit load is very important for stable fruit production.