Performance of strawberry under shading by white polyethylene sheet

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate yield and fruit quality of day-neutral strawberry under white and transparent polyethylene sheet. Two experiments were conducted in consecutive years. The treatments were the combination of the white and the transparent polyethylene sheets with the cultivars Aromas, Monterey, Portola and San Andreas. It were evaluated on fruit the total number, total weight, average mass, total soluble solids, titrable acidity, and the air temperature in the tunnels. The average maximum air temperatures were lower under white sheets as well as the number of fruits of ‘Portola’. The number of fruits of ‘San Andreas’ and the total weight of fruits of ‘Portola’ were negatively affected by the white sheet in one year. The white sheet reduced the total soluble solids content of fruits, regardless the cultivar, and increased fruit acidity in ‘Portola’. In conclusion, the use of white polyethylene sheet reduces the maximum temperature of the air. However, it decreases the yield and increases the juice acidity of the cultivar ‘Portola’, and reduces the soluble solids content of the berries regardless the cultivar.