Evaluation of strawberry production and fruit firmness under small and large plastic tunnels in annual crop system.

Nine strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) cultivars were grown under small and large tunnels throughout two consecutive cropping seasons to investigate the influence of the cover system on yield and fruit quality. Early marketable yield, total marketable yield, first class fruit in early and total yield, and fruit firmness were evaluated. Plants, from a high elevation nursery, were planted in the last week of October 2002 and 2003 on two-row raised beds covered by black plastic mulch, and then, in mid-November plants were covered with plastic film in large or small plastic tunnel. Significant differences were found for all characteristics. The response of the cultivars evaluated differed depending on the cover system employed. Strawberry plants grown under large tunnels were more precocious and more yielding than those grown under small tunnels. The highest values for fruit firmness were obtained for genotypes grown under small tunnels.