pot level influences on fruit albinism by strawberry in soilless culture

to determine the effect of pot level and nutrient leaching on albinism disorder in strawberry (fragaria ananassa duch cv `camaroso`) cultivated in perlite substrate an experiment was conducted in 2006. yield was determined three times (january-february, march-april and may-june). the results indicated that plants located in an upper position showed more albinism (40.42%) which could be related to nitrogen and potassium leaching as well as a decrease in light intensity. albinism fruits had higher nitrogen (1.4 mg/g) and potassium (2.14 mg/g) and lower calcium (0.13%) contents, the ratio of n/ca and k/ca being higher as compared with those in the normal fruits. former plants fruit were smaller resulting in lower yield. early fruits (january-february) showed the most albinism and the highest nitrogen (1.29 mg/g) as well as potassium (2.05 mg/g) contents. albinism was decreased (19.55%) in the storage organs at the end of harvesting season because of decrease in nitrogen and potassium. the interaction effect between harvesting time and pot level was to be not significant.