Abstract
Yield components and occurrence of fruit malformation in ‘Ai-Berry’ (Fragaria×ananassa Duch.) were investigated with two rates of nitrogen application (0 and 100kg/ha) and six kinds of nursery plants; two kinds of pot-grown plants (grown at 20 and 1200m in elevation) and four kinds of field-grown plants with two rates of nitrogen application (0 and 60kg/ha) and two rooting time (late July and late August).
Nitrogen application (100kg/ha) hastened flowering and increased the number of flowers on the 1st inflorescences. However, fruit malformation occurred more severely than in plants without nitrogen application and increase in ratio of small fruits (<20g) resulted in reduction of total yield.
Highest yield of normal large fruits (_??_30g) was obtained in smallest field-grown plants (rooted late August without nitrogen application in the nursery). Nitrogen application was less effective in these plants. Pot-grown plants and field-grown plants rooted in late July bore more flowers on the 1st inflorescence but produced smaller fruits than others.
Yield of total and normal large fruits were negatively correlated with the number of flowers on the 1st inflorescence.
