Comparison of Propagation Methods and Cutting Collection Time Focusing on Transplant Growth, Fruit Quality, and Yield in Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different propagation methods and cutting collection time on the seedling quality and post-transplanting growth characteristics of ‘Sulhyang’ strawberry. For propagation, runner cuttings were collected three times independently from mother plants. Runners of the mother plants from pinning propagation were used as control specimens. There were 2.0, 5.3, and 6.7 cuttings per mother plant on May 8, June 5, and July 3, respectively, which indicated that collection in early May was insufficient to acquire an appropriate number of cuttings. The relationship between the number of cuttings collected and cumulative solar radiation was set as a logarithmic equation of y = 4.4113 ln (x) – 24.4090. The survival rate of cuttings was highest in the June collection and lowest in the July collection based on the time sequence. During the nursery period, root activity was better in the transplants obtained in May and June compared to those obtained in July. On the day of transplanting, the top/root (T/R) ratio was lowest in the June collection and highest in the July collection based on the time sequence. The mean fruit weight was highest in the June collection, followed by the pinning propagation group, and it was lowest in the July collection. The cuttings collected in early June produced the most uniform transplants and had the most stable fruit yield among the pinning and cutting collections. In conclusion, considering the supply of a sufficient number of cuttings, the production of high-quality transplants and a more stable fruit yield, cutting propagation in early June was found to be superior to pinning propagation for ‘Sulhyang’ strawberry.