Abstract

Post-harvest defoliation of strawberry plants increased truss numbers and fruit yields more often in the variety Talisman than in Redgauntlet, but decreased both in Cambridge Favourite. Yield increments were due to increased initiation of trusses, giving more trusses per crown. Potential crops, based on truss initiation rates, were not fully realized in defoliated plants, especially when defoliation was delayed until early September, because of (a) crown death and a decreased capacity to form new branch crowns, and (b) a decrease in the yield of fruit per truss, compared with uncut controls. Sprays of thiram reduced crown death.