Selection in seedling populations and clonal progenies of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.)

Abstract

To determine the efficiency of selection in seedling populations andtheir vegetative progenies, the relationship between characters ofseedlings, of clones and between seedlings and clones were computedby the use of phenotypic correlations. Some 17 seedling populationswith 1625 seedlings and 231 clones from 8 parents were chosen forthe selection of clones and the evaluation of plant and yield characters.The vigour of the seedling at the beginning of its development wasnot decisive for its further productivity. The yield of seedlingscould be estimated by the expression of vegetative characters inautumn of the planting year and in spring of the year of harvest.For clonal plants the correlations between yield components of twocropping years were compared. On the base of correlation coefficientslarge differences between seedlings and clonal plants in their phenotypiccharacters could be found. Against this background, an efficientselection for yield and yield components has to be carried out inthe clonal progeny.