About strawberry

                                                         "Arnavutköy Strawberry"

 Istanbul is known as a preferred migration route for plant species during times when the world experiences huge climate transitions. As a result of the advantages provided by the climate, it is possible to come across some plant species of Istanbul, which has a very wide range of plant species, in the Anatolian geography and the Balkan Peninsula.

Hosting 2,500 different plant species on its lands, Istanbul constitutes 25 percent of Turkey's plant flora. Although Istanbul has limited agricultural areas because it is an urbanized metropolis, it feeds on products from the surrounding Thrace and Marmara Regions. One of these is the "Arnavutköy Strawberry" . Arnavutköy's vineyards and gardens have been famous since the 16th century. It is known that the history of viticulture in this region goes back even further, to the Byzantine period.

The strawberry fields on the Arnavutköy hills were protected until the 1960s. After the 1960s, first the Ottoman strawberry and then the chervil began to decline both in Arnavutköy and in other regions where this strawberry was grown.

Rapid urbanization -concrete- that started in the 1960s has also defeated the famous fragrant strawberry and apartment buildings have prevailed.

Today, it has completely disappeared except for small private gardens.

                                                            Strawberry

Strawberry (Fragaria) is a genus of grape-like plants in the Rosaceae family and the common name of the fruits of the species in this genus.

The first mentions of strawberry as an ancient continent were encountered during the Roman civilization period. Strawberry fruit was mentioned in ancient Roman literature with reference to its medical use.

During those dates and afterwards, strawberries were generally at the forefront with their medical benefits. It is said to be good for many things from gout to kidney stones, from high fever to melancholy. In mythology, it also symbolized Venus due to its red color and heart shape. The fact that archaeologists have found strawberry seeds from the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Iron Age suggests that people of that period consumed strawberries. However, the cultivation of strawberries did not occur until around the 14th century.

When Europeans came to America, they realized that the natives had already discovered strawberries. The natives, on the other hand, learned the techniques of culturing strawberries in order to create strawberries that would suit the taste of the arriving Europeans.

Although it is not known exactly where the name strawberry comes from in terms of etymology, it is thought that it gained this name (strawberry) because it is cultivated in wicker beds. After the strawberry is harvested, it is separated with a straw knife. This may have given it this name as a word (straw of the berries). While Native Americans call the strawberry “wuttahimneash” (meaning fruit with heart-shaped seeds), the scientific name of this fruit is known as Fragaria.

The strawberry flower symbolizes “respect and love, perfection, foresight” in mythology. This fruit, famous for its aphrodisiac effect in France, also symbolizes Venus, the goddess of love in mythology. This is probably why newlyweds in France celebrate their love by drinking strawberry soup with sour cream, sugar and herbaceous plants in their traditional breakfast.

In medieval Christian art and folklore, strawberries symbolize spiritual purity, morality, truthfulness and the perfect nobility of the soul. In fact, it is believed that its leaves symbolize the Holy Trinity because they have three leaves.

                                                 Strawberry farming

Strawberries are in the group of berry-like fruits. Its fruit is not a real fruit, but the edible part is the flower base where 40-60 pistils come together. Strawberries are herbaceous plants with a superficial root structure. Roots grow down to 60-70 cm in well-drained soils. Good pollination is necessary for strawberries. Fruits that are not pollinated well will have deformities. After pollination, the fruit usually ripens in 30-35 days.

-Strawberry is a completely natural fruit and contains vitamin C, B group vitamins, minerals (potassium, manganese, magnesium, iron), natural sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose

fiber and antioxidants. More than 90% is water → so it is refreshing and low in calories.

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Strawberry can be grown in cold conditions down to -10 oC. In colder regions, plants should be protected from frost by covering them with materials such as straw and dry leaves. The most suitable soil for strawberry cultivation is drained, sandy-loam and light soils. Soils with high lime content are not suitable for strawberries. It does not create a significant problem in soils with a soil pH of 7.0 - 7.5.

Excessive watering causes root rot, insufficient watering causes the plant to stress. Both of these situations negatively affect fruit development. Regular but not excessive watering is very important, especially during the flowering and fruit formation periods.

Water Consumption:

Strawberry is a water-sensitive It is a plant and is subject to intensive irrigation, especially in hot regions. Excessive water use can cause depletion of underground water reserves. Wrong irrigation methods increase water waste.

Soil Erosion and Inefficiency:

Monoculture (single type of plant) cultivation and continuous use of soil can damage the structure of the soil. Another risk is the mixing of plastics used in fruit mulch (covering) applications into the environment.

Plastic Waste and Packaging:Plastic covers (mulches), seedling containers and packaging used in strawberry production can cause environmental pollution if not collected and recycled correctly. Plastic particles can mix into the soil and water and increase the microplastic problem. 

2. Strawberry production with the support of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The importance of artificial intelligence in plant cultivation is increasing day by day. Here are some of them:

1. Smart Forecast and Tracking Systems

• AI analyzes weather data and predicts risks such as frost, drought, and storms.

2. Smart Irrigation and Humidity Control

• Soil moisture and temperature are regularly monitored thanks to AI-supported sensors.

• By giving the exact amount of water the plant needs, both savings are achieved and the plant does not get stressed.

3. Pest and Disease Prediction

• Leaves or fruits are scanned with image processing.

• AI recognizes disease symptoms early and determines when to spray or biologically intervene.

4. Genetic Resistance and Data Analysis

• The performance of different strawberry varieties is monitored.

• AI analyzes which variety is more resistant to which climate conditions.

• This makes it possible to grow more resistant strawberry varieties in the future.

5. Yield Estimation and Harvest Planning

• AI monitors plant development and determines harvest time most accurately.

• This reduces product waste and produces higher quality fruit.

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