Injuries induced in different strawberry genotypes by winter freeze and their effect on subsequent yield

Abstract Severe frosts without snow cover are disastrous for the garden strawberry, Fragaria × ananassa Duch. The objectives of this study were to determine injuries, caused by freeze to crowns and roots of 13 and five different cultivars/lines in 2002 and 2003, respectively; to observe subsequent plant behaviour; to measure yield and to find out its dependence upon the injuries. Based on percentages of injured branch crowns and roots, estimates of plant growth and yields, the relationships between the indices have been established. Root injury has had a stronger effect on plant growth compared with crown injury. Yield has been found to be correlated only with plant growth, root damage and root‐to‐crown ratio of per cent survival when root damage was heavy. Two different strategies of the cultivars/lines, associated with their morphological characteristics and physiological peculiarities influencing plant survival, growth and yield, have been revealed. To discern the characters and cultivar types that can be valuable in such extreme conditions, differences in the genotypes responses to freeze are examined and thoroughly analysed in the paper.