2025/08/05 by Yi-Yun Lin, David J. Barker, Chieri Kubota · 1 voice · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Berry genetics and cultivation research #Growth and nutrition in plants #Horticultural and Viticultural Research
paper · doi:10.21273/horttech05698-25
openalex publication_date 2025/08/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/14
Optimizing the light environment for indoor strawberry production is critical for ensuring high productivity and fruit quality. Short-day (SD) strawberries require SD conditions for flower induction. However, short days can also cause semidormancy symptoms that inhibit strawberry plant growth and production. One strategy to address this challenge in SD strawberry production is extending to a long-day (LD) photoperiod to prevent semidormancy. This preliminary study investigated the effect of photoperiod adjustment and light quality modification by analyzing two SD strawberry cultivars, Earliglow and Nyohou, under three photoperiod treatments (SD, LD, or alternating SD/LD) with or without supplemental far-red (FR) treatments (44% FR, 700–800 nm over a total photon flux density of 400–800 nm). Plants under continuous SD conditions exhibited a typical semidormancy-like morphology, with shorter petioles and peduncles. The supplemental FR treatment extended petiole and peduncle length significantly, regardless of daylength. Strawberry total yield, total number of fruit, and percentage of marketable fruit were greater in plants with supplemental FR treatment regardless of cultivar. Supplemental FR light treatment also increased the total soluble solid concentration (TSS, Brix) and the Brix-to-titratable acidity ratio. The increase in productivity and fruit TSS was attributed in part to a high total photon flux density as well as improved plant morphology under supplemental FR light, which enhanced photoassimilate allocation to fruit. The addition of FR light appears to be beneficial in indoor production of SD strawberry cultivars for preventing semidormancy and enhancing yield and fruit quality.