Performance of exotic strawberry varieties under temperate conditions of north-western Himalayas

Present study was carried out in the experimental farm, Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-Kashmir, Srinagar to evaluate the performance of seven exotic varieties of strawberry viz., Camarosa, Anthea, Missionary, Red Cross, Fiana, Majestic and Confitura under temperate conditions of Kashmir valley. Among different varieties, maximum plant height (16.00 cm) was recorded in cultivar Majestic and minimum in cultivar Anther (8.50 cm). Maximum plant spread (23.50 cm), leaf area (39.80 cm²), number of leaves per plant (18.23), and petiole length (10.43) was observed in variety Camarosa. Maximum number of runners per plant was recorded in cultivar Missionary (7.30) however the length of runner was highest (98.50 cm) in cultivar Fiana. Flower initiation in all the varieties under study occurred from 6^th to 20^th of April and the flower initiation was earliest in cultivar Fiana. Peak bloom was earliest in cultivar Camarosa and fruits were ready for picking earliest in cultivar Confitura. Fruits were ready for harvesting upto 30^th June in cultivar Anthea. Fruits of all the varieties were prolate spheroid in shape. Maximum number of pickings (11) occurred in cultivar Camarosa. Maximum number of fruitlets per plant (22.61) were recorded in cultivar Camarosa. Maximum fruit length (4.20 cm), fruit diameter (3.50 cm), fruit weight (19.90 g), yield per plant (352.02 g), total soluble solids (7.50°B), titrable acidity (0.95%), total sugars (6.81%) and organoleptic score (4.33) was also recorded in cultivar Camarosa in comparison to other varieties under study. As the cultivar Camarosa excelled in most of the characteristics studied in comparison to other varieties, thus can be recommended for commercial cultivation in temperate conditions of Kashmir valley.