This document provides information about strawberry production including its classification, varieties, cultivation practices, pests, and diseases. It discusses that strawberry is a short day, perennial herb rich in vitamin C and iron. The major varieties grown in India are Chandler, Tioga, Torrey, Selva, and Belrubi. Matted row system is commonly used for training. Proper soil preparation, irrigation, nutrition management and pest/disease control are required for successful cultivation.

1. Course No: FSC-502
Course Title: Subtropical and Temperate Fruit production
Pradeep Kumar Vishwakarma
M.Sc. (Horti.) Fruit science,
IInd Semester
REG. NO: 04-2691-2015
Dr. M. J.PATEL
Assoc. Professor
Department of Horticulture ,
B.A.C.A.,A.A.U.,Anand-388 110

2. Introduction
Strawberry is an attractive, luscious tasty and nutritious fruit
with a distinct and pleasant aroma, and delicate flavour. It has a
unique place among cultivated berry fruit It is an man made hybrid.
 Some important points related to strawberry are as follows.
 Monoecious, short day, low perennial herb and quick growing fruit
plant
 Suitable for kitchen garden
 Rich in vit.- c and iron
 Flavour is due to Ethyle butanoate and Ethyle hexanoate
 First fruit crop micro-propagation studied
 Flowers are borne in small cluster and white in colour
 Type of inflorescence : Dichotomic raceme
 Type of fruit : Etaerio of achenes
 Type of pollination : both self and cross
 Major pollinator : Honey bee
 Edible portion : Succulent thalamus
 Chromosome no.(2n) = 56 (8x)

3. Scientific Classification Strawberry
Kingdom: Plantae
Order Rosales
Family Rosaceae
Sub-family Rosoidae
Genus Fragaria
Species ananasa
Botanical Name Fragaria ananasa
Fragaria ananasa Fragaria chilonensis X
Fragaria virginiana
Origin France (Man made hybrid)

4. Uses:
The fruit is widely appreciated
for its characteristic aroma,
bright red color, juicy texture,
and sweetness.
One cup (144 g) of strawberries
contains approximately 45
calories (188 kJ) and is an
excellent source of vitamin C
and flavonoids.
It is consumed in large
quantities, either fresh or in
prepared foods such as
preserves, fruit juice, pies, ice
creams, and milkshakes.
Artificial strawberry aroma is
also widely used in many
industrialized food products.

5. Nutritional Benefits:
Good source of Folic Acid
Good for women’s health,
reduces birth defects
Potassium maintains fluids,
promotes faster healing
Dietary fiber and vitamin-c
supports immune system,
adds growth
Manganese and calcium
bone formation, hormone
function

6. Area & Production
 Strawberry is cultivated in Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and
Rajasthan. Sub-tropical areas in Jammu have also the potential
to grow the crop under irrigated condition.
 In India it is generally cultivated in the hills.
 Its main centres of cultivation are Nainital (district) and
Dehradun in Uttar Pradesh, Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra),
Kashmir Valley, Bangalore and Kalimpong (West Bengal).
 In recent years, strawberry is being cultivated successfully in
plains of Maharashtra around Pune,Nashik and Sangali towns.
 India’s 400-500-tonns strawberry export is likely to dip this year
as production has been affected.
 Total area is 0.21 ‘000 Ha. and production is 1.61 ‘000 MT in
India during the year 2013-14. (Source NHB database 2014)

7. Cultivars:
Three types of strawberries are available:
 June bearers which fruit once each season.
 Day neutrals that fruit several times each season.
 Ever bearers that despite their name, fruit twice each
season.
Varieties Cultivated:
Important strawberry varieties cultivated in India are
Chandler, Tioga, Torrey, Selva, Belrubi, Fern and Pajaro.
Other varieties include Premier, Red cost, Local Jeolikot,
Dilpasand, Bangalore, Florida 90, Katrain Sweet, Pusa
Early Dwarf & Blakemore.

8. Chandler
Fruit is of exceptionally high
dessert quality with outstanding color
and flavour. It is very resistant to
physical damages caused by rain. Plants
are tolerant to viruses. Fruits are large,
flesh and skin firm and flavour
excellent. It is suitable for fresh market
and processing. On an average, berry
weights 15-18 g. The fruits have good
TSS (12%), acidity (0.85%), vitamin C
(55.5mg/100g) and sugar content
(6.1%).
Tioga
An early –maturing cultivar, it is
tolerant to viruses. Fruits very large,
flesh and skin firm, dessert and
processing quality good, TSS 12.2%,
acidity 0.98% and sugar 6.2%. Average
berry weights about 9g.

9. Torrey
Tolerant to viruses, it produces
numerous runners. Fruits large, flesh and
skin medium firm, dessert quality excellent,
processing quality good, TSS 12.0%,
acidity 0.97% and sugars 6.1%. Average
berry weights 6.9g.
Selva
A day-neutral cultivar, it has the
capacity to produce off-season fruits. It is
different from day-neutral or ever bearing
types. Fruits large, flesh and skin firm,
conic to blocky in shape, dessert quality
good. It can be handled and shipped fairly
well. Skin bright red, attractive, flesh red,
internally somewhat hollow, light in color
at core, average berry weighs 15-18g, TSS
11.1%, acidity 1.0% and sugar 5.5%.

10. Belrubi
Fruits large, conical (necked
fruit), skin bright red, flesh attractive
red, somewhat firm, less hollow at
core, high quality, sweet, slightly
subacid, average berry weight 15 g,
TSS 11.8%, acidity 0.98%, sugars
6%. Plant produces adequate runners.
Fern
It is a day-neutral, early-
ripening and over-bearing
cultivar. Fruits large, medium,
conical, solid internally, slightly
hollow, skin red, flesh red, firm,
flavour excellent, suitable for fresh
market and processing. It tastes sweet
to slightly sub acid. Average berry
weight 20-25g, TSS 11.2%, acidity
0.98% and sugars 6.1%.

11. Pajaro
It is very successful under
summer system. Plant tolerant to
virus. Fruit has good dessert and
processing quality. Fruit is quite
susceptible to physical damage
caused by rain. Fruits large flesh
very firm, skin firm, red color,
average berry weighs 7.6g, TSS
12.2%, acidity 0.97% and sugars
5.5%.
Besides these Premier,
Red Coat, Local, Jeolikot,
Dilpasand, Bangalore, Florida
90, Katrain Sweet, Pusa Early
Dwarf and Blakemore are also
grown.

12. Propagation:
Runners - most common
method
Use those formed after
blooming
But runners hard to find in
semi-arid regions
Seeds & stem cuttings
Important to buy disease-
free plants from reliable
nursery

13. Time of planting:
In the hills transplanting
is done in March-April,
September-October.
 The plains, the months of
January-February may be
utilised for this purpose.
At Maharashtra normally
strawberry is planted
during November-
December.

14. Climate:
Strawberry grows well under temperate climate. Some
cultivars can be grown in sub-tropical climate. Daylight period
of 12 hrs. or less and moderate temperature are important for
flower-bud formation. Each cultivar has a different day length
and temperature requirement. Choose an area at the very least,
6 hours of sunlight daily.
Soil :
Well-drained.
High in organic matter.
Sandy loam to loamy soil
Slightly acidic for root formation - 5.7 to 6.5 pH.
Green manure.
However, the plant is fairly adaptable.
Strawberry plants are highly sensitive to salt. Too much salt
in your soil can cause “leaf scorch,”

15. Soil Preparation:
 Start 1 month before
planting.
 Use as much organic
matter as possible.
 Create beds - hill or matted
rows, or raised for better
drainage.
 Apply fertilizer a few days
before planting.

16. Spacing:
Planting distance varies
according to variety & type of
land. A spacing of 30 cm. x 60
cm. is usually followed. In the
model scheme, a spacing of 30
cm. x 30 cm. with a population
of 22,000 plants per acre has
been considered which was
commonly observed in areas
covered during a field study.

17. Irrigation:
Strawberry being a shallow-
rooted plant requires more
frequent but less amount of
water in each irrigation
First two months - Twice per
week without rain
Third month - Weekly
Fourth and fifth months -
Every two weeks
Fruiting begins - Increase
again for larger fruits

18. Nutrition:
A fertilizer dose of 25-50 tonnes farmyard manure, 75-100
kg. N, 40-120 kg. P2O5, 40-80 kg. K2O/ha. may be
applied according to soil type and variety planted.
State FYM
(Tonnes/Ha.)
N
(kg/ha.)
P
(kg/ha.)
K
(kg/ha.)
Himanchal Pradesh 50 80 40 40
Uttarakhand 25-37.5 75-100 80-120 50-80
Note:
 FYM are mix the soil at preparation of planting bed
 Half dose of K2O and full dose of P2O5 are placed in the planting rows at 15-
20 cm depth
 Half N is should be broadcast in inter-row spaces one month after planting
 Remaining N and K2O should be sidedressed at the time of flowering
 Foliar spraying of N @ 0.5%, P2O5 @ 0.2% and K2O @ 0.5%, 4times
between August and February is also advised

20. Training system:
There are 4 training system – matted row, spaced row, hill
and plastic mulch. Generally matted row system is followed in
our country.
Matted row:
This is simplest and least expensive method. The runners
are usually planted at 90cm X 45cm spacing. After the initial
growth of the first year, runners are allowed to cover the vacant
space all around the mother plants ultimately covering the whole
vacant space and giving the appearance of the mat.

21. Spaced row:
This system is suitable for cultivars that are moderate to
weak in producing runners. The daughter plants are spaced at
definite distances by covering the selected tips of runners with
soil which become plants. This is done till the desired number of
daughter plants are obtained for each mother plant. The runners
formed later on are removed.

22. Hill system:
This system is followed for the cultivars
developing a few runners. All runners are removed from
the mother plant. The individual plants become large and
bear more than those in matted row. The plants are planted
25-30cm apart in twin rows and 100-110cm spacing
between twin rows. A small tractor can use for tillage.
Where cultivation done manually, the rows can be spaced
closer at 60cm. in some cases triple rows are set.

23. Plastic film:
Green or black plastic film is used as a mulch for the
hill system to control weed and conserve moisture, but on
hot days some scalding of berries take place. In this system
berries are kept clean and reduced the rot and mold. The
plants bloom earlier. These prone to damage by frost.

24. Aftercare:
Flower stem should be removed as they appear on plant after
planting. If not removed, flowers create a drain on the plant,
reducing their vitality, number and size of daughter plant
In Hill system, runners should be cut as and when they
appear. With matted row system surplus plant should be removed
from outside the rows during late summer and autumn
Keep the crop weed-free during first season by cultivating,
applying herbicides or plastic mulch
It should be ensured that soil remains around the crown
without covering them
Mulching:
Mulching is an important operation in strawberry cultivation. Mulching should
be done just after planting (before start their growth) for checking weed growth and
conserving moisture in the soil. Fruit rotting is also reduced by inorganic mulch.
It is two types:
1. Inorganic mulch – Black plastic film (widely used) and green plastic film.
2. Organic mulch – leaves, wheat and paddy straw, news paper and dry grasses etc.

25. Harvesting:
Fruiting happens after 3 to 4
months
Look for 1/2 to 3/4 berries having
natural crimson color
Slightly soft darkening seeds
Harvest daily, early morning, dry
conditions
Pinch between thumb and
forefinger, pull with twisting
motion, leave stem on fruit.

26. Yields:
Varies with season and
locality. Generally it is 20-
25 tonnes per hectare.
Storage
Strawberry is highly perishable
commodity so this can store for
maximum 7-10 days at 0.C and
90-95 RH.

27. Insect & Pests:
Strawberry Root Weevil
– The weevils themselves cause mainly cosmetic
damage until mid-summer when they lay their eggs in
the soil around the plants.
– The best organic solution may be Diatomaceous Earth
(DE).
Strawberry Sap Beetles
– Strawberry Sap Beetles prefer to eat over-ripe
strawberries. These are also known as “picnic” beetles.
– The easiest way to prevent an infestation of this beetle
is to not allow your berries to get over-ripe.

28. Leaf spots
• Leaf spots are a very common problem in
strawberry plants.
• The best cure is to plant resistant varieties in
your patch.
Anthracnose
• Anthracnose is a hot, humid climate disease .
• Planting resistant varieties and watering in the
a.m. can help prevent this malady. Because
it’s caused by splashing water, mulch has
been noted to help reduce anthracnose by
reducing splashing of infected water.
Red scale
• Red scale is a soil-borne fungus that attacks
the roots of strawberry plants.
• Planting resistant varieties is the best
preventative measure against this ailment.
Also, planting in soil that drains well.

29. Verticillium Wilt
• Wilt often strikes the first year your
berries are planted.
• Planting resistant varieties in areas
where it has been a problem has been
successful.
Black Root Rot
• Black Root Rot is caused by water-
logged, poorly draining soil, freezing,
or nematodes, or a combination of any
of these.
• Obviously, in the list above, avoiding
poorly draining clayish soil would be
a good start. Adding organic matter to
the soil would also be effective.