Effect of Low Temperature-Darkness Treatment on Floral Initiation and Flowering Response of Korean Strawberry Cultivars

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of low temperature-darkness treatment on floral initiation in four kinds of Korean strawberry cultivars. Mother plants were planted on March 29 and daughter plants were raised for the experiment. Temperature treatment was done for 7, 14, and 21 days keeping 13℃ in cooling storage from August 29, September 5 and September 14 to September 21. After the treatment, flower bud initiation was examined by a microscope, and the seedlings were transplanted on hydroponic system with Yamazaki"s strawberry solution of EC 0.8 dS/-1 to check the flowering. Ssanta and Maehyang showed early flower bud initiation in 7 days treatment than Seolhyang by microscope check. Ssanta, Daewang, and Maehyang showed early flower bud initiation in 14 days treatment than Seolhyang. There were no differences among the treatments in 21 days treatment. Percentage of flowering of Seolhyang and Maehyang by low temperature-darkness treatment did not show any difference but Daewang and Ssanta showed high percentage of flowering. It suggested that low temperature-darkness treatment technique can be use for improving early flowering and yield of Ssanta and Daewang cultivars.