Genetic improvement of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa duchesne)

Abstract

The modern cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne) is one of the world’s most appetizing and delicious fruits. The genotypic diversity, highly heterozygous nature and broad range of environmental adaptation have made this fruit unique. It is a good source of fructose, glucose, vitamin-A, vitamin-C, and minerals like potassium, calcium and phosphorus. The anticancer effects of individual phytochemical constituents of strawberries, as well as whole strawberry extracts, have been demonstrated. Research on the antioxidant content of strawberries is providing us with more and more evidence about decreased lipid peroxidation in blood vessel linings following consumption, and less malondialdehyde formation as well. Breeding and induction of somaclonal variation are useful to create new genetic variability for the improvement of strawberry genotypes. The application of classical breeding and biotechnological approaches are potential tools to improve yield and taste of strawberry. Different diseases like crown rot and Verticillium significantly impede yield. Somaclonal variation was discussed as a breeding tool for future improvement of strawberry varieties. Although the chapter is predominantly written and arranged emphasizing the specific research on biotechnology and genetic improvement of strawberry; nevertheless information on origin, taxonomy, breeding, mutagenesis and parthenocarpy are also presented.