Desempenho produtivo e qualidade de infrutescência de cultivares de morango sob a aplicação de filme de partícula (CaO) no Estado de Sergipe

Abstract

Strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.), a species in the genus Fragaria, is the result of hybridization between two American species, F. chiloensis Mill. and F. virginiana Duch. Due to its origins in temperate climates with milder temperatures and less intense solar radiation, the strawberry has limitations when it comes to its cultivation in tropical climates with higher temperatures, solar radiation, and air humidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of three day-neutral strawberry cultivars, Albion (Al), Monterey (Mo) and San Andreas (SA) from Segovia, Spain, in two cultivation systems (soil and semihydroponic) in a low-altitude tropical region, subjected to the application of a calcium oxide (CaO)-based particle film. To this end, two experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 was conducted in a field (soil) using mulching in a low tunnel, where two concentrations of calcium particle film (2.5% and 5% CaO) and a control (0% CaO) and three cultivars (Al, Mo and SA) were tested, with planting at the beginning of June/22 and cultivation until November/22. Analyses of ecological and physiological parameters and productivity throughout the cycle were performed in winter and spring. Experiment 2 was conducted in a semi-hydroponic system on a bench in a low tunnel, where three concentrations of calcium particle film (0%, 2.5% and 5% CaO) and three cultivars (Al, Mo and SA) were tested. The system was set up in May/23 and the crop was cultivated until February/24, with analyses of ecological and physiological parameters conducted in winter and spring, while productivity was monitored month by month. The application of the different film concentrations and cultivars led to significant differences in chlorophyll levels for the different time periods evaluated for the two cultivation systems. Just like the chlorophyll levels, the parameters related to the fluorescence of chlorophyll a were affected by the films, the evaluation period and the cultivars. In the field study, the film with 2.5% CaO concentration promoted gains in terms of production (number and average mass of infructescences, and productivity), while Mo and SA were the cultivars that performed better in terms of infructescence production parameters. In the experiment in a semi-hydroponic system, the parameters related to production were only affected by the cultivars, with SA standing out in the different months evaluated. The application of film (CaO) proves to be an alternative for adapting strawberry cultivation in low-altitude tropical regions to soil culture, as is the case with the Mo and SA cultivars. In the semi-hydroponic system, although there was no influence from the application of the films, the cultivars showed significant differences, especially the San Andreas cultivar, which has great potential for implantation in the state of Sergipe.