The Latest Factors Influencing Flower Bud Differentiation in Strawberries
When we grow strawberries in pots, besides being able to enjoy them as ornamentals, what matters more is the hope of harvesting delicious, ripe fruit. To get strawberries to fruit successfully, the development, formation and differentiation of flower buds is key. Only when potted strawberries successfully form flower buds can they go on to bloom and fruit. And the number and quality of the flower buds formed often have a direct influence on how well the strawberries fruit. So, what are they?
The formation and differentiation of strawberry flower buds is often constrained by many aspects, such as the variety chosen and its growth condition, light, temperature, nutrients and growth regulators. So the editor will analyze these aspects for everyone.
I. Quality of the young seedlings
The quality of strawberry seedlings directly affects the formation and differentiation of flower buds, especially the number and quality of the flower buds. If the seedlings develop well, the number of differentiated flower buds will be greater and their quality will be higher. Moreover, the number of leaves on strawberry seedlings often also affects the timing and speed of flower bud differentiation and the number of flowers. Under normal circumstances, you need to make sure there are 4 or more leaves, because seedlings with fewer than 4 leaves have a shorter growth period and accumulate relatively fewer nutrients, which often has a certain negative effect on flower bud differentiation.
The age of the strawberry seedling also has a certain influence on flower induction, because it is often an important factor in sensing temperature and daylength, and has a relatively large effect on the process of flower bud differentiation and formation. Generally, the older the plant age, the weaker its vigor, and the later the time at which flower buds form, and it may even fail to successfully promote flower bud formation.
Young strawberry plants are generally potted and planted in early September in autumn, usually on a cloudy day or in the evening of a sunny day, because the timing of potting and planting also affects the formation and differentiation of flower buds to a certain extent.
II. Cultivation management
For potted strawberries, adopting scientific and reasonable cultivation management methods will greatly promote the formation and differentiation of flower buds in the later stage of the plant. Generally, the process of flower bud differentiation can be reasonably regulated through management in many aspects, such as the seedling-raising process, potting and planting, pot soil preparation, and water and fertilizer management.
During the seedling-raising stage, it is generally necessary to avoid direct strong light and to allow short-day conditions with weaker light, while appropriately lowering the temperature, as this can promote differentiation; and appropriately trimming and cutting the roots and controlling nitrogen intake can not only promote flower bud differentiation but also make the formation of flower buds appear more uniform.
III. Nutrient elements
The amount of nutrient elements often constrains flower bud formation. Especially during the flower bud differentiation period, if carbohydrates are sufficient, nitrogen is moderate and the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio is high, it will largely be more conducive to promoting flower bud formation; if the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio is relatively low, it will often delay flower bud differentiation to a certain extent.
Relatively speaking, robustly growing seedlings differentiate flower buds earlier than weaker-growing seedlings, but the number of small flowers they open also increases accordingly, mainly because excessive nitrogen intake causes the plant to grow too vigorously, leading to a phenomenon in which flower bud differentiation is not inhibited. Seedlings with moderate growth, on the other hand, are more conducive to promoting flower bud differentiation. You can trim the roots of the plant and appropriately control growth, which can accelerate flower bud differentiation.
IV. Environmental factors
The main environmental factors affecting the differentiation and development of flower buds in potted strawberries are temperature and light. If these two conditions are suitable, they can accelerate the formation and differentiation of strawberry flower buds. Generally, the optimal temperature for flower bud differentiation is between 10-20°C, and it is best to keep the average ambient temperature at 15°C; when the temperature drops below 5°C, flower bud differentiation is often inhibited or stops occurring. At the same time, during the flower bud differentiation process, it is advisable to ensure that the daily light duration is 10-12 hours.
However, the conditions for flower bud differentiation and development are often not the same, and there may even be a considerable contrast. Flower bud differentiation needs to go through a process of low temperature and short days, while flower bud development needs to go through a process of high temperature and long days; the latter requires a light duration of no less than 12 hours in a temperature environment above 20°C. And after the flower buds have differentiated normally, we need to adjust temperature and light in time so that the environment is more conducive to promoting the development and growth of the flower buds.
V. Growth regulators
For strawberries, when applying growth regulators, abscisic acid is generally chosen and gibberellin must not be used. This is because applying abscisic acid can promote strawberry flower bud differentiation, whereas applying gibberellin does the opposite and often inhibits flower bud formation and differentiation. And if some paclobutrazol can be sprayed during the strawberry seedling stage, it often also helps to promote flower bud formation to a certain extent.