Misshapen Fruits in Strawberry

Misshapen fruit are a perennial problem in strawberry (Fragaria xananassaDuch.) production. The strawberry is an aggregate fruit originating from the receptacle of the flower. The true fruits, the achenes form from the carpels present on the surface of the receptacle. Fruit growth and shape are largely determined by the number and position of achenes on the receptacle; an uneven distribution or an insufficient number of fertilized ovaries will result in small, misshapen fruit. A number of factors contribute to the formation of misshapes, but most important seem to be genotype, flower position within the inflorescence and stamen and carpel viability. However, effects of the environment, pollination and nutrition must also be considered. In this review, we summarize information on the causes of misshapes, and discuss ways in which they could be overcome.