Abstract
Present study was performed to promote flower-bud differentiation of strawberry grown in the NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) system where the nutrient solution was cooled at night.
During raising period of strawberry (‘Terunoka’and‘U7-13’: ‘Pajaro’seedlingבTerunoka’), nutrient solution was kept at 10°C from 16: 00 in the evening to 8: 00 next morning, and nitrogen element was removed from the solution.
The treatment resulted in earlier flowering and harvesting, and in increase in fruit yield from the first harvesting through February.
During the treatment, rhizosphere temperature was 11-12°C and about 1°C higher than the solution temperature. Temperature in the crown was 13-15°C. Seemingly the solution temperature affected strongly at both root and crown, but not so significantly at leaf and petiole.
From the results, it was concluded that running cold nutrient solution through the channel of NFT cooled the roots and the shoot apex of strawberry and promoted flower-bud differentiation.
