Effect of temperature and controlled atmosphere on cold storage of strawberry plants

Waiting bed plants were packed in polyethylene bags and cold stored at three different temperatures -1 degrees C, -2 degrees C and -3 degrees C for seven months. The highest yield was achieved from plants stored at -1 degrees C, about 4% of the plants stored at -2 degrees C showed browning of the crown tissue, however, vigour and yield were not reduced significantly. About 37% of the plants stored at -3 degrees C showed low temperature injury. Length of petioles and flower trusses were significantly shorter and yield was significantly lower. Waiting bed plants were packed in microperforated or sealed polyethylene bags and cold stored at -1 degrees C in an uncontrolled atmosphere and in modified atmospheres for eight months. The modified atmospheres were 5% O-2 and 5% CO2, 2% O-2 and 5% CO2, 2% O-2 and 1% CO2, 1% O-2 and 3% CO2. The strawberry plants stored in normal conditions were superior to those stored in reduced O-2 conditions. In ambient atmosphere plants stored in sealed bags outyielded plants stored in micropunctured bags. The combination of low O-2 (2-5%) and high CO2 (1-5%) atmosphere reduced plant survival, vigour and yield. In these modified atmospheres plants stored and performed better in punctured bags. An atmospheres of 1% O-2 led to production of ethanol and increased plant mortality.