Since a
temperature of 6 8C is within the range of temperatures that are
fully effective in breaking dormancy in strawberry (Guttridge,
1985; Lieten, 1997), it appears that the dormancy-inducing
effect of SD is continuously nullified at such a low temperature
and that the plants are responsive to chilling at all stages of
dormancy development. This is in full agreement with the
dynamic responses of strawberry plants to seasonal changes of
the natural environment where SD are effective in inducing
dormancy during the first part of autumn when temperatures are
still favourable, and yet, allowing dormancy release by low
temperature later in autumn when days are even shorter.