Studies on vegetative growth of runner plants obtained from micropropagated plants of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.)

The micropropagated plants of strawberry cv. Chandler were planted under field conditions at two dates viz. 1^st April, 2001 and 16^th April, 2001 and two distances viz. 100 x 100 cm and 100 x 60 cm. The results showed that the wider planting distance (100 x 100 cm) significantly produced more number (12.71) of roots per runner plant as compared to closer planting distance (100 x 60 cm). However, the planting date and planting distance had no significant effect on the vegetative growth of mother plants in terms of number of leaves. Similarly, the effect of planting date and planting distance on the length of main roots, number of leaves and total height of runner plants (shoot + root length) was also found non-significant. The runner plant was found to have as much as 9.98 cm mean height with 4–5 leaves under the present study.