Page 8 - Griffin Gazette Issue 3 - 2022

Strawberry

GUTTATION AND CALCIUM

By Erica Hernandez, CEA GGSPro Technical Specialist

Modern strawberries, commonly Fragaria x ananassa, are members of the
Rosaceae family and have been an important part of American agriculture
since the 1800s. Commonly grown in fields in California and Florida, many
cultivars exhibit photoperiod dependent flowering and fruiting responses that

these locations are well suited to support. Though field production has been
a long-standing tradition when it comes to this crop, more and more growers
are seeking to bring these plants indoors and produce fruits regardless of
geography. Local greenhouse production of strawberries comes with many

advantages (decreased shipping, longer shelf life, supporting local economies),
but face different physiological concerns than field production. One such
issue is tip burn, which can result in leaf and calyx damage, reduced plant
productivity, and signal poor environmental conditions.