Effects of Different Root Restriction Media on Root Activity and Seedling Quality and Early Growth Parameters of Runner Plantlets of Strawberry After Transplanting

The present study aimed to determine the influence of various root restriction media on seedling quality and early growth of strawberry after transplanting. The root activity of the seedlings, measured 20 days after fixation, was considerably higher (0.096, 0.090, and $0.063mg{\cdot}g^{-1}{\cdot}h^{-1}$ at 420, 450, and 480 nm, respectively) in expanded rice hull (ERH) treatment than in the sandy loam and loamy sand treatments. The volumetric water content (VWC) of the root media tested across 3 irrigation regimes (15 d, 30 d, 45 d) in the nursery field was highest in sandy loam (65.0-66.8%), followed by 59.4-61.3% in loamy sand and 38.6-45.3% in ERH. When growth parameters of runner plantlets were compared, ERH treatment was found to result in the highest crown thickness and fresh weights of root and above-ground parts. This had a favorable influence on above-ground tissue growth after transplanting to plastic house soil. As mentioned above, ERH treatment resulted in the highest seedling quality and early growth after transplanting. The results of this study would serve as useful on-site data for the production of high-quality strawberry seedlings.