Whole Plant Photosynthesis and Dry-matter Partitioning in Fruiting and Deblossomed Day-neutral Strawberry Plants

On a whole-plant basis, deblossomed ‘Tribute’ strawberry plants had higher rates of net photosynthesis (Pn) and greater leaf area than fruiting plants during the last 3 weeks of a 6-week fruiting cycle. Leaves of both fruiting and deblossomed plants had a greater dry weight and total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNSC) content than the roots, crown, or fruit. At the end of the fruiting cycle, dry weight and TNSC content of leaves were higher for deblossomed plants than fruiting plants. There was no difference in crown or root dry weights between treatments. Pn was highly correlated with plant dry weight and TNSC during the 3rd, 5th, and 6th weeks of the fruiting cycle.