Misshapen fruits in 'Capri' strawberry are affected by temperature and fruit thinning

The appearance of fruit malformation was investigated in the strawberry cultivar ‘Capri’ at different temperatures (23, 25 and 26°C) and relative humidity (70, 85 and 87%) in greenhouse cultivation using frigo (traditional, cold-stored) plants. In a second trial, the crop load was reduced by thinning different flower structures (at the crown apex, emerging inflorescences, and single flowers) in waiting bed plants (larger plants with well-differentiated flower buds). At fruit harvest, the percentage of misshapen fruits was recorded and the degree of the malformation was scored. In experiment 1, a higher incidence of fruit deformation was detected under higher temperature. In experiment 2, fruit malformation decreased by reducing the number of flowers per plant. In both experiments, tertiary and quaternary fruits showed a higher proportion of undeveloped fruit tips compared with primary and secondary fruits, but the degree of malformation was less. Anatomical modifications of fruit tissue were observed inside the undeveloped tips.