COMPARISON OF TWO METHODS OF DETERMINING ACHENE NUMBERS ON STRAWBERRIES

Development of strawberry fruit depends on the number of fertilized achenes on the surface. The achenes are distributed on the receptacle surface in a pattern of more or less regular rows, spirally arranged. The number of achenes is determined by 1) counting the number of achenes per square centimeter of surface on ripe berries; 2) weighing the achenes after separation from the receptacle; or 3) counting the number of achenes after pressing the fruit between two layers of glass. The above methods are laborious and time-consuming. We, therefore, described anew semi-automated method (Image Analysis System, IAS) as an alternative to the above procedures. The IAS is capable of grouping the achenes into two or more categories based on their size (sound or aborted), surface area, color, volume, etc. This will facilitate the study of the relationship between achene number and fruit weight in strawberry.