INITIAL DEVELOPMENT OF STRAWBERRY PLANTS (FRAGARIA × ANANASSA DUCH.) IN A HYDROPONIC SYSTEM IN THE COASTAL REGION OF THE STATE OF RIO GRANDE DO NORTE

Abstract

The strawberry plant (Fragaria x ananassa Duch) is a crop not so much explored in Brazil, and its largest production is concentrated in the South and Southeast regions. In the Northeast region, the crop is not widespread and in the Rio Grande do Norte State the production is nearly nonexistent. The study was carried out at the Academic Unit Specialized in Agricultural Sciences, Jundiai Agricultural School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, located in the county of Macaíba-RN and had the purpose of evaluating and monitoring the early growth of two neutral day strawberry cultivars (Albion and San Andreas) in hydroponic system using Nutrient Laminar Flow Technique – NFT, on what the mortality rate was the most relevant result, the San Andreas cultivar had the highest percentage, 20%, and Albion with the lowest percentage, 8,5% presenting the best result. In addition to the mortality rate, the San Andreas cultivar showed to be more susceptible to attack by pests and diseases, being the only cultivar to show attack by thrips, fungus and nutritional deficiency. In relation to the problems that occurred during the initial growth, the factors as worm attack and importation transportation conditions were the ones that most affected the initial growth of the seedlings and also caused injuries to them. In general, the seedlings presented good performance and a low mortality rate, of 14.4% in the initial development in the coastal region of the Rio Grande do Norte State.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/edimpacto2025.080-005