MAIN TYPES OF RESPONSE OF STRAWBERRY GENOTYPES TO DROUGHT AND THEIR RELATION TO DROUGHT RESISTANCE

Abstract

Aim of the research is to find out which behaviour specifics of strawberry genotypes lead to differences between cultivars in drought resistance, and how damage rate caused by drought is associated with specifics of plant response to it. In two studies which included 20 and 16 strawberry genotypes, respectively, rates and symptoms of plant injuries have been estimated, and behaviour habits of each genotype established. Cultivars and selections that developed vigorous crowns with large and tough leaves—Saint Williams, Pandora, Or 967-9-15 and Or 975-12-72—resisted drought more successfully compared with others, maintaining high levels of water content in leaves at the cost of growth breaking and thanks to redistribution of a part of inner water from the lowest leaves to upper ones.