ABSTRACT
Disturbances in the normal metabolic activities in plant cells and resultant effects due to non-pathogenic factors such as extremes of macro- and microclimatic conditions, soil and water relations and imbalanced nutrient status in strawberry plants are termed physiological disorders. Adverse weather events, improperly planted and poorly maintained plantations and deficiency of various nutrients and interactions from fertilizers or pesticides are the possible causes of physiological disorders. Being a high-input-requiring, short-duration, herbaceous crop, strawberry is very easily affected by unfavourable weather conditions and improper nutrition, reflected in reduced yield of substandard fruits, causing great economic losses to growers. Some damages such as loss from lightning strikes or hailstorm cannot be corrected by human intervention, but others specially from mismanagement in standard cultural practices can be avoided by taking advanced corrective measures. In this chapter, attempts are made to holistically describe the occurrence of various physiological disorders, along with associated factors and mechanisms. In addition, based upon the latest scientific facts, suitable corrective measures have been suggested for various physiological disorders affecting successful strawberry production in the forthcoming sections.
