Production and physicochemical characteristics of strawberry cultivars produced in organic cropping system

Abstract

The conventional production of strawberries has been characterized by high use of inputs resulting in chemical waste in the fruit. Strawberry produced on organic cropping system becomes important, because have more economic autonomy to family farms and reaches levels ecological, social and economic sustainability. The production and physicochemical characteristics of four short-day strawberry plants – Campinas, Chandler Dover and Vila Nova – were evaluated in order to obtain information to the development of organic system productive in the northwestern region of Rio Grande do Sul state, in Brazil. The experiment was conducted between May 1^st and November 3^rd, 2014. As regarded production characteristics, in each productive month and in total accumulated of the cycle were evaluated the mass and the quantity of accessory fruit produced by the plant. The physicochemical characteristics were determined through the soluble solid content, titratable acidity, pH and the color of the accessory fruits. Referring to the productivity, 'Campinas' stood on the other cultivars, showing bigger mass and total accessory fruit number. About the relation of soluble solid content and titratable acidity, the cultivars Chandler and Dover reached the best results, whereas the color of the 'Chandler', 'Campinas' and 'Villa Nova' accessory fruits submitted higher °Hue value.