Effects of Brassinosteroid on Vegetative and Reproductive Growth in Two Day-neutral Strawberries

Abstract

The effects of brassinosteroid on growth parameters of two day-neutral strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch. 'Miyoshi' and 'Enrai') grown in a greenhouse were investigated. In both cultivars, brassinosteroid increased total leaf areas by 150-180% and the number of leaves, petiole length, and number of crowns by 110-140% over the untreated control plants. Runner formation was unaffected by the brassinosteroid. Dry weights of leaves, petioles, crowns, and total organs of plants treated with brassinosteroid were heavier than those of untreated plants, whereas the dry weights of roots from treated plants were equally heavy as those of the control. Brassinosteroid significantly increased the total number of flowers and number of inflorescences per plant, but not the number of flowers per inflorescence. Brassinosteroid significantly increased total marketable berries and total yield per plant in 'Miyoshi', but it did not increase yields of 'Enrai'.