Effect of cold storage method for 'Sulhyang' strawberry mother plants on mother plant growth and the number of runners and daughters

This test was conducted to determine the appropriate conditions of temperature, storage period, and soil moisture content when using cold storage of potted mother plants of as a means of sufficient dormant breaking and safe overwintering of the strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch. cv. Sulhyang) mother plants. In the treatment by temperature for the dormant breaking of strawberry mother plants, the survival rate of natural overwintering was 91%, whereas the survival rate was 100% at 0, - 2, and - 5℃. As the storage temperature was decreased, the plant height of the mother plants became shorter which tended to decrease after planting. Survival of the mother plants was possible at - 5℃, but after planting, the growth and number of daughter plants decreased significantly. The number of daughter plants was highest at 22.8 per plant at - 2℃ storage. The strawberry mother plants could be stored for up to 8 months in cold storage. However, when the mother plants were stored for a long period, the number of daughter plants was small. When they were stored for 4 months, the growth of the mother plants was vigorous, and the number of runners and daughter plants was high. When the water content of the soil was less than 10 percent (%, w/w) in the cold storage of the pot, the survival rate was 85 percent, which was high due to the dryness. The survival rate was 100 percent at 30 and above, and the growth of the mother plants after planting and the number of daughter plants were high at 30 to 50.