Nonlinear Logistic Model for Describing Strawberry Fruit Production

Abstract

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) production can be evaluated as repeated measurements, since the same plant is harvested multiple times during the production season. The objectives were to evaluate the production of fresh mass and fruit number in successive harvests and compare three strawberry clones in two cultivation conditions. Two experiments were carried out in two environmental cultivations: the rural property and the experimental area of the Plant Science Department, Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil. The parameters of the nonlinear logistic model and their critical points were estimated via bootstrap for each condition and clone for fresh mass and fruit number with accumulated values, depending on the thermal sum accumulated during the production season. For nonlinear regression analysis, the ordinary least squares method was used with the Gauss–Newton algorithm. Confidence intervals were obtained for each parameter and estimated critical points, and they did not cross; the treatments were considered different. There were significant differences between clones and cultivation conditions for fruit mass and number. The nonlinear logistic models, adjusted for mass and number of strawberry fruits, detailed the production season, highlighting the main differences between cultivation conditions and clones.