Strawberry fruit yield and quality responses to flower bud removal:: A simulation of damage by strawberry blossom weevil (Anthonomus rubi)

The effect of flower bud severing (with scissors) on the yield and fruit quality of strawberry (cii. Elsanta) grown on raised, polythene-mulched beds varied with plant size and numbers of flower buds per plant. On very small plants (with an average of seven flower buds and yielding 105 g of fruit per plant) severing reduced yield in direct proportion to the proportion of flower buds severed, irrespective of whether severing included or did not include removal of the primary (first node) flower bud. There was no evidence of crop compensation. On larger plants (with 24. 70 and 117 Rower buds and yielding 0.34 kg, 0.73 kg and 1.16 kg of fruit per plant respectively) severing up to 12 buds per plant did not significantly affect yield: mean berry weight increased by up to 11% and the percentage fruit (by number) in quality class I increased from 67% to 72% in response to severing. Two mechanisms of yield compensation were, apparent i) an increase in mean berry weight, and ii) the maturing of alternative replacement flower buds. Severing slightly delayed by 1-2 d the date by when 10% and 25% of fruit was picked. Implications for the economic damage threshold for flower bud severing by the strawberry blossom weevil are discussed.