Effect of Day Length on Growth, Flowering, and Yield of Three Strawberry Varieties in a Tropical Climate
Crop Improvement
Growing strawberries in a warm climate is notoriously tricky, but a 12-hour LED lighting schedule can coax Japanese varieties into flowering weeks earlier — a practical lever for home greenhouse growers in subtropical regions looking to extend or shift their harvest window.
Researchers in a tropical greenhouse tested whether adding LED grow lights could help three Japanese strawberry varieties perform better in a warm climate where natural day length isn't ideal for strawberries. The lights made a real difference: one variety flowered almost a month earlier, another produced dramatically more flowers, and all three showed changes in how they grew. The variety 'KS75' came out on top for fruit size and total harvest weight.
Key Findings
'KS75' flowered approximately 27 days earlier under LED lighting compared to non-LED conditions.
'Sakura' produced 11.75 more flowers per plant and 5.87 more flowers per bunch under LED treatment.
'KS75' achieved the highest total yield (256.54 g), average fruit weight (9.88 g), and fruit diameter (26 mm) among the three cultivars.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Supplemental LED lighting in a tropical greenhouse significantly boosted flowering and growth in Japanese strawberry varieties, with 'KS75' flowering 27 days earlier and producing the highest fruit yield, while 'Sakura' excelled in flower count and fruit number.
Abstract Preview
Light plays a vital role in plant growth and development, significantly affecting both the quality and quantity of strawberry fruit production. This study investigated the effects of day length on ...
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