Economics of Runner and In Vitro Propagated Strawberry Cultivation S. Diengngan1* and B. N. S. Murthy2

1M. Sc. (Hort.), Dept. of Fruit Science, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot 2Principal Scientist, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, Karnataka

*Email of corresponding author: shibhortfsc@gmail.com

Introduction The cultivated strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) is one of the most important soft fruit of the world. Basically it is a temperate fruit but has amended to different climatic conditions viz., moderate, mediterranean, subtropical and even to high altitudes of tropical climate. Strawberry fruits are mostly eaten fresh and some quantities are processed. The processed products comprise canned products, jams, conserves, frozen items, drinks, etc. The fruit is an important dietary source of fiber and bioactive compounds, as well as micronutrients and phytochemicals. In India, prompt efforts to popularize its cultivation took place in Himachal Pradesh and hills of Uttar Pradesh. But it received a setback on account of poor returns per unit area and faced marketing problems, because of poor shelf-life nature of the crop. Later on, with the introduction of cultivars like Chandler, Elista, Senga Sengana, Tioga, Robinson and Fairfax, the scenario changed. Now it is commercially grown in different regions of the country, with major production centres concentrated in and around Mahableshwar (Maharashtra), Shillong (Meghalaya) and to a little extent in Punjab, Western Ghats, Nilgiris and Palani hills. Conventionally, strawberry propagation is accomplished through runners which generally root at nodes. Only proper selection of plants for propagation helps to safeguard the vigour of the cultivars. Several viral, mycoplasma and fungal diseases are easily transmitted through runners. Furthermore, the rate of strawberry propagation through conventional techniques is quite low and the maintenance of plant materials during summer is challenging. Moreover, the conventional mode of production is not passable in meeting the commercial demand. In vitro

Popular Kheti Volume -3, Issue-1 (January-March), 2015

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ISSN: 2321-0001

The cost economics of strawberry cultivation were evaluated. The approximate total cost of production of runner and tissue culture plants were estimated to be Rs 5.97 lakhs and Rs 7.97 lakhs per hectare respectively. However the total income that can be obtained were approximately Rs 23.58 lakhs and Rs 43.67 lakhs per hectare, respectively. The net profit that can be obtained from the cultivation of runner and tissue cultured plants were Rs 17.61 lakhs and Rs 35.70 lakhs per hectare, respectively. Thus, it was clinched that the cost benefit ratio for the production of runner and tissue culture plants were 1:4 and 1:5, respectively.

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multiplication is a safe alternative for rapid production of pathogen free propagules. The use of meristem culture for the recovery and establishment of pathogen free plants has become a common practice in the production of virus free stock of vegetatively propagated plants in many commercial nurseries in the world, and currently, the large scale commercial multiplication through tissue culture is widely adopted in strawberry industry. Knowing the economics of cultivation of plants derived from conventional runners and tissue culture would benefit the growers especially the farmers. In the present study efforts has been made to evaluate the economics of cultivation of runner derived and tissue cultured strawberry plantlets.

Materials and Methods The strawberry cv. Festival was taken for the study. Although the tissue cultured plants were obtained from the laboratory of the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, the market price of the tissue cultured plantlets and runner derived plantlets was taken into account. The plantlets from both the sources i.e., runner and tissue culture were planted in the prepared field. The plant to plant distance was kept at 35 x 60 cm. Drip irrigation was provided and recommended rates and procedures were followed fertilization. The cost of planting materials, land preparation, planting and intercultural operation, micro irrigation system (MIS), manures, fertilizers and pesticides, labour charge and miscellaneous charges were taken into account for calculation of the cost benefit ratio of strawberry cultivation.

Results The cost economics of strawberry cultivation were evaluated. The approximate cost of planting materials obtained conventionally from runners and tissue culture were 2.86 and 4.76 lakhs per hectare respectively. The various other costs for land preparation, planting and intercultural operation, micro-irrigation system (MIS), manures, fertilizers and pesticides, labour charge and miscellaneous charges are presented in Table 1. The approximate total cost of production of runner and tissue culture plants were estimated to be Rs 5.97 lakhs and Rs 7.97 lakhs per hectare respectively. However the total income that can be obtained were approximately Rs 23.58 lakhs and Rs 43.67 lakhs per hectare, respectively from the sale of fruits and runners. The yield of fruits and runners was higher in the plants derived from tissue culture than the runner derived plants. The net profit that can be obtained from the cultivation of runner and tissue cultured plants were Rs 17.61 lakhs and Rs 35.70 lakhs per hectare, respectively. Thus, it was clinched that the cost benefit ratio for the production of runner and tissue culture plants were 1:4 and 1:5 respectively.

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Fig 1. (a) Various stages of strawberry micropropagation; from in vitro culture to acclimatization; (b) Field planting of strawberry plants; (c) Fruiting in strawberry cv. Festival.

a

b

c

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Table 1: Economics comparison of strawberry cultivation on per hectare basis

Particulars Approx. cost (Rs) (lakh/ha) Runner Tissue Culture

Planting materials Total plants per ha: 47619 Cost per plant: Rs 6 for runner and Rs 10 for Tissue Culture plantlets

2.86 4.76

Micro-irrigation system (MIS) 1.65 1.65 Land preparation, planting and intercultural operation 0.26 0.26 Manures, fertilizers and pesticides 0.30 0.35 Labour charge 0.60 0.60 Miscellaneous charges 0.30 0.35 Total cost 5.97 7.97

Income structure in strawberry cultivation Runner Tissue Culture Yield of fruits (kg/ha) 3643.73 6620.04 Yield of runners (number/ha) 302095 562476 Sales of fruits (lakhs @ Rs 150/kg ) 5.46 9.93 Sales of runners 18.12 33.75 Total income 23.58 43.67 Net profit 17.61 35.70 Cost benefit ratio 1:4 1:5

Conclusion

The results obtained in the present study provide eminent information to the growers for commercialization and popularization of the cultivation of strawberry. The better returns in growing tissue cultured strawberry would project the replacement of runner propagated plantlets with tissue cultured plantlets in the near future, thereby prompting the hike in setting up of tissue culture units in various states of commercial importance. This would also increase the area of cultivation of strawberry in India as a whole, thereby increasing the production as well.

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Diengngan and Murthy, 2015, Pop. Kheti, 3(1): 33-36