ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the effects of light, temperature, water, and other environmental factors on the growth and development of the modern, cultivated strawberry, F. x ananassa. The discussion also includes other Fragaria species, particularly when pertinent citations are unavailable for F. x ananassa. The modern cultivated strawberry is the most widely distributed fruit crop worldwide due to genotypic diversity and a broad range of environmental adaptation. The anatomy, morphology, and growth habit of the strawberry plant have been described in detail in numerous publications. Vegetative and reproductive growth of strawberry is more sensitive to environmental conditions, particularly photoperiod and temperature, than most other fruit crops. Studies concerning the environmental physiology of strawberries must be interpreted carefully due to the genetic diversity in strawberry, and to the variability in environmental response among cultivars. Strawberry cultivars are often categorized on the basis of photoperiodic responses, particularly in regard to floral induction and flower bud initiation.
