Open Access

REVIEW

Growth Characteristics and Sustainable Cultivation Management Techniques of Small Berries: A Review with a Focus on Strawberry under Protected Agriculture

Yu Yang^1,*, Biao Jia¹, Xin Ma^1,*, Hailing Shang¹, Shuai Lou¹, Chao Zhang¹, Jianming Zhao¹, Min Li¹, Jiali Bao¹, Zhongbo Wang², Dongjie Jia³

1 Water Resources Research Institute of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, China
2 Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Water Conservancy Comprehensive Security Center, Hohhot, China
3 Management Center of Hongshan Reservoir, Chifeng, China

* Corresponding Authors: Yu Yang. Email: ; Xin Ma. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Integrated Approaches to Crop Yield Enhancement)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2026, 95(5), 1 https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2026.081047

Received 22 February 2026; Accepted 20 April 2026; Issue published 27 May 2026

Abstract

Small berries, represented by strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and aronia berries, are increasingly valued worldwide for their rich nutritional content and economic potential. This review systematically outlines the growth characteristics of these berries, with a focused analysis on strawberries-including their ecological adaptations and responses to soil, water, temperature, light, and nutrition. It further elaborates on the integrated technical system for protected strawberry cultivation, covering cultivar selection, seedling propagation, transplanting, water and nutrient management, environmental control, flower and fruit regulation, green pest control, and post-harvest handling. The paper also discusses innovative models for industry development, such as leisure agriculture integration and smart farming. The findings emphasize that precision management based on growth traits, supported by technological innovation and sustainable practices, is essential for enhancing yield, quality, and industry sustainability in protected small berry production.

---

Keywords

---