AUTHOR(S) / АУТОР(И): Radmila Nikolić 
, Jelena Tomić , Boris Rilak , Marijana Pešaković , Žaklina Kraklajić Stajić , Svetlana Paunović , Vanja Daničić , Nataša Čereković
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.46793/SBT26.275N
ABSTRACT / САЖЕТАК:
In this study, the fruit quality of June-bearing (‘Aprica’ and ‘Brilla’) and everbearing (‘Irma’ and ‘Monterey’) strawberry cultivars was evaluated across different harvest periods (beginning, middle, and end). June-bearing cultivars produced larger fruits, particularly in the later harvests, whereas everbearing cultivars showed a higher proportion of large fruits at the beginning and middle of the harvest period. Fruit dimensions and shape index generally decreased toward the end of the harvest. Soluble solids content was higher in June-bearing (7.47 and 8.20 °Brix) compared to everbearing (6.03 and 6.60 °Brix) cultivars. Fruit firmness was highest in ‘Monterey’ (2.28 N), while color parameters (L*, a*, b*) were highest in fruits harvested in the middle of the period, regardless of cultivar, resulting in lighter, intensely red, and visually more attractive fruits. These findings highlight the importance of harvest timing and cultivar selection in optimizing strawberry fruit quality traits for the fresh market.
KEYWORDS / КЉУЧНЕ РЕЧИ:
strawberry, cultivar, harvest time, fruit quality
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT / ПРОЈЕКАТ:
This work was supported by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia [grant number: 451-03-33/2026-03/200215].
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