What causes strawberries not to bear fruit? The latest analysis is here
Strawberries are in high demand in the market and offer good economic returns, so quite a lot of people grow them. However, some growers encounter the problem of plants not bearing fruit during cultivation, which distresses fruit farmers greatly. So why do strawberries fail to bear fruit? Let's take a look.
1. Internal factors
1. Variety characteristics
Varieties with different ripening periods differ in how early or late flower buds differentiate, the number of flowers differentiated, and the number of flower buds, so choosing the right strawberry variety is very important. The quality of flowering also determines the quality of fruiting in strawberries.
2. Nutrients
The nutritional status of the plant is closely related to flower bud formation. Before flower bud differentiation, sufficient carbohydrates and an increased ratio of nitrogen are beneficial to flower bud differentiation; otherwise, flower bud differentiation is delayed. Strong seedlings differentiate flower buds earlier than weak seedlings, and their number of florets also increases accordingly. Too much nitrogen leads to vigorous vegetative growth, which is not conducive to flower bud differentiation.
3. Growth-regulating substances
Flower bud differentiation in strawberries is the result of the interaction between hormones that promote flower bud differentiation and hormones that inhibit it. Generally, growth-promoting hormones such as gibberellins and auxins are not conducive to flower bud differentiation; conversely, growth-inhibiting hormones such as abscisic acid and cytokinins promote flower bud differentiation.
2. External factors
1. Light and temperature
Temperature and light affect physiological processes in strawberries such as photosynthesis and respiration. They relate to the plant's nutrient production and affect flower bud differentiation. Low temperature and short-day conditions induce flower bud formation, and most strawberry varieties begin flower bud differentiation under the induction of low temperature and short-day conditions.
2. Watering and fertilizing
Within the same variety, excessive nitrogen fertilizer application and more watering or rainfall lead to strong vegetative growth, while excessive vegetative growth, or too many or too few leaves, can delay flower bud differentiation. Therefore, try not to apply large amounts of water or too much nitrogen fertilizer, so as to avoid the plants staying green and ripening late with little nutrient accumulation, thereby affecting the quality of flower bud differentiation.
3. Spraying plant growth regulators
Artificial spraying of gibberellins can inhibit flower bud differentiation, while plant growth retardants and inhibitors such as chlormequat, paclobutrazol and abscisic acid, when applied to strawberry seedlings, inhibit plant growth and promote flower bud differentiation.
4. Leaf removal
Leaf removal can induce flower formation, and removing old leaves is more effective than removing new leaves, because old leaves contain more flower-inhibiting substances; removing them reduces their content and at the same time reduces nutrient consumption and increases accumulation, thereby promoting flower bud differentiation. Therefore, in production, leaf removal should be done in moderation to avoid causing failure to bear fruit.
The above is an introduction to what causes strawberries not to bear fruit. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.