Effects of transplant type, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, and soil treatment on growth and yield of strawberry in Florida

The effects of transplant type and soil treatment on growth and yield of strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) produced in annual hill culture were evaluated for three years in Florida field trials. 'Sweet Charlie' and 'Camarosa' strawberry transplants were propagated as bare root, plug, and plugs amended with a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterial (PGPR) treatment, LS213. The transplant treatments were evaluated in combination with methyl bromide, 1, 3-dichloropropene ( Telone II), an unregistered iodine-based compound (Plantpro 45), and untreated soil. 'Camarosa' plugs amended with LS213 had higher overall yields than bare root transplants in all three years. Both 'Camarosa' and ` Sweet Charlie' plug and LS213 plug plants produced yields approximately two weeks earlier than bare root transplants in all years. Regardless of transplant type, and in both consecutive years of Plantpro 45 and Telone application, treatment with Plantpro 45 resulted in smaller and less healthy root systems than other soil treatments, and treatment with Telone resulted in yields comparable to methyl bromide.