EFFECT OF CULTIVAR, PLANTING DATE and GROWING MEDIUM on SOME CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STRAWBERRY FRUITS Fragaria ananassa Duch., CVS. FERN and HAPIL

Abstract

This study was conducted on six- months old of two cultivars of strawberry plants ( Fragaria ananassa Duch.,cvs. Fern and Hapil ) grown in a plastic bags during the period from 10th December , 2010 to 15th April , 2011 at Abu- El Khassib District , Basrah Governorate, to investigate effects of cultivar Fern and Hapil, planting date 10th ,Dec., and 25th,Dec.,2010, and growing medium peatmoss , sand + peatmoss (1 : 1, v/v) , sand + peatmoss ( 3 : 1,v/v ) and clay, on some chemical characteristics of strawberry fruits. Results showed that Hapil cultivar recorded significant increase in concentration of anthocyanin pigment of fruit, but the increases were not significant in total acidity, total sugars and vitamin C content of fruit as compared to Fern cultivar. Fern cultivar gave insignificant increase in total soluble solids of fruit. The result also revealed that strawberries planted on 10thDec.2010 recorded significant increases in total soluble solids, total acidity, vitamin C content of fruit. Strawberries planted on 25th Dec.2010 had significant increase in anthocyanin pigment concentration of fruit, but the increase in total sugars of fruit was not significant. Results obtained indicated that different growth media affected the studied characters significantly in which strawberries grown in peatmoss medium recorded significant increases in total soluble solids, total acidity, vitamin C content , and anthocyanin pigment concentration of fruit . Stawberries grown in sand + peatmoss ( 3:1 ) recorded significant increase in total sugars of fruit. Combinations of factors under investigation had significant influences in most of the studied characteristics.