Effects of using boron and honey bee on misshapen fruit formation with fruit yield and quality in rubygem strawberry cultivar

In this study, effects of using Boron and honey bee on misshapen fruit rate, fruit yield and quality in Rubygem strawberry cultivar were investigated. The research was conducted in two Spanish type high tunnels. One of the tunnels was closed with a net to prevent bee activity and the other one was leaved opened by placing a bee hive near it. The effects of soil, foliar and both soil and foliar Boron treatments were investigated with a control (water) treatment in strawberry plants. As a result of the study, it has been observed that different tunnels and Boron treatments were not affected pollen viability and germination rates significantly. However placing bee hives near tunnels, especially in cold periods which the bee activity is low and in the proceeding periods, affected fruit yield and quality positively by increasing pollination success. Boron treatments are also increased total fruit yield and normally developed fruit rate again in cold periods but there were not any effect in proceeding periods which the temperatures are higher. Boron treatments especially in bee activity allowed tunnels increased marketable fruit yield by affecting normally developed fruit yield and fruit weight positively.