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- Author or Editor: Douglas V. Shaw x
The extended production season of strawberries raised in mediterranean environments depends on plant development that occurs during the winter months. Seedling genotypes from 20 bi-parental crosses and their nine parent genotypes were fully vernalized and grown at 11, 14, and 17C, to test for adaptation to growth at minimal temperatures. Genetic variance parameters were estimated and tests for genetic x temperature interactions were conducted for five vegetative growth traits. Highly significant (P < 0.01) genetic effects were detected for all traits, and broad-sense heritability estimates ranged from 0.09 to 0.41. None of the genetic x temperature interactions were significant for seedling genotypes, and interactions were significant only for leaf dry weights for parental genotypes. These results indicate a genetic basis for variable vegetative growth rates, but provide no evidence for specific adaptation to growth at low temperatures.
Selfed progenies were generated using 10 day-neutral genotypes from the University of California (UC) strawberry breeding program as parents and their offspring were classified for late-summer flowering response. The grandparents of each selfed progeny included one of four day-neutral genotypes and one of eight short-day genotypes. Under the null hypothesis of genetic control by a single locus with the allele for day-neutrality dominant to the allele for short-day flowering response, all of these day-neutral parent genotypes must be heterozygous and their selfed offspring were expected to fit a 3:1 ratio of day-neutral: short-day phenotypes. The percentage of day-neutral offspring observed over all progenies was 70.9%, and was significantly smaller than the expected value of 75% (χ2 1 = 5.08, P < 0.02). The percentage of day-neutral offspring for individual progenies ranged from 41.4% to 84.8%, and highly significant heterogeneity was detected among progenies (χ2 9 = 40.3, P < 0.01). Selfed progeny means for the cumulative late-summer flowering score calculated using the day-neutral fraction of offspring varied from 1.31 to 2.35 and progeny means for the number of inflorescences per plant ranged from 3.5 to 9.9; these differences among progenies were highly significant (P < 0.01). These observations can be used to conclusively reject the hypothesis that day-neutrality in this domestic strawberry population is controlled by a single locus.
The heritabilities of, and genetic correlations among, variables that describe internal and external color in fresh strawberry (Fragaria × anarrassa) fruit were estimated using factorial analyses of seedlings from 20 controlled crosses. Hunter L and a values, and a subjective score generated by comparison with color plates were obtained for seedling genotypes and their parents at two locations. Genetic effects were responsible for 33% to 61% of the phenotypic variance for color traits, after correction for location effects. Means for objective color variables differed significantly between locations, but means for subjective color scores did not. Genetic × location interaction variances were usually nonsignificant, and were < 12% of the phenotypic variance for all variables. Phenotypic and genetic correlations between objective and subjective color scores were significant and large (absolute values of r = 0.42-0.69; rg = 0.84-1.00). Multiple regression of subjective scores on L and a explained 69% and 59% of the phenotypic variation for external and internal color, respectively. Genetic correlations between measures of internal and external color were small and mostly nonsignificant, suggesting that separate sets of genes condition these traits.
Parental potential, or breeding value, was evaluated for strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) genotypes selected for high, intermediate, or low phenotypic expression of soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acid content (TA). Progeny means and genetic variance parameters were estimated using seedlings from 40 crosses among these selections, conducted in two factorial sets. Selection response for breeding value was detected for SSC in the upward direction and for TA in both upward and downward directions. Populations created by divergent selection of parents followed by intermating expressed additive genetic variances 2.3 and 9.3 times larger than those estimated for appropriate controls for SSC and TA, respectively. For TA, the response to selection for breeding value was consistent with results for genotypic selection reported earlier. The significant selection response in breeding value obtained for SSC differed from the results of previous clonal tests that had detected no significant genotypic selection response. These results, together with previous assessments, suggest that cumulative genetic gain can be obtained for both SSC and TA. However, gain for SSC will be contingent on selection under conditions that approximate commercial treatment; this will not be necessary for TA, as expression for this trait is stable across test location and cultural treatments.
Abstract
Genotypic variances and genotypic correlations were estimated for soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acids, and their major constituents, using strawberry genotypes (Fragaria × ananassa) not previously selected for flavor or other commercial traits. Genotypic variances estimated for SSC and total sugars were nonsignificant, whereas those estimated for acids were significant and large. Relative expression of acids was stable throughout the season; large genetic × harvest date interactions reduced genotypic consistency for SSC. Despite the absence of detectable genotypic variation for SSC and total sugars, significant genotypic variation was detected for sucrose, glucose, and fructose, and the relative expression of these sugars was stable over harvest dates. The total allocation of sugar to fruit appears fixed, but the distribution pattern among sugar constituents at commercial ripeness is variable. This interpretation was supported by the observation of a strong negative genotypic correlation between sucrose and its components, glucose and fructose. These results suggest that opportunity exists for genetic improvement of acids, but that selection response for SSC will be difficult to obtain.
Color change in fresh, ripe strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) fruit stored at 0C for up to 7 days was recorded using the Commission Internationale de l' Éclairage color space (L*, a*, and b*). External (skin) fruit color became darker and less chromatic but did not change hue. Internal (flesh) fruit color became darker and more chromatic. Regression coefficients calculated for individual genotypes were homogeneous for each of the color traits except internal hue. Depending on genotype, the red fruit flesh either became a bluer red or did not change hue. In all cases, rates of change were small. Color change for fresh strawberry fruit during several days of storage at 0C likely is not an appreciable source of error in plant breeding experiments.
Yield for annual California strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) production systems in soils treated with combinations of methyl bromide–chloropicrin (MB:CP) were compared with four alternative soil treatment systems using meta-analysis. Studies represent 11 production seasons, and were conducted at three distinct locations in California. Fumigation with mixtures of methyl bromide (MB) and chloropicrin (CP) increased yield significantly compared with any and all alternatives lacking MB. In a combined analysis of 45 studies, fumigation with MB:CP compounds increased yield an average of 94.4% (d+ = 2.874 ± 0.098) compared with yields for plants in nonfumigated (NF) soils. Further, the effect of MB:CP fumigation increased over the first three strawberry cultivation cycles: MB:CP–fumigated soils provided a 59.2% (d+ = 2.166 ± 0.146) yield advantage when one cycle of fumigation was omitted, a 100.2% (d+ = 3.000 ± 0.143) advantage when two cycles were omitted, and a 148.4% (d+ = 6.201 ± 0.348) yield advantage when three or more cycles of MB:CP were omitted. In a combined analysis that included 34 studies, soil fumigation with MB:CP conferred a 9.6% (d+ = 0.751 ± 0.087) yield advantage over fumigation with CP alone. Soils treated with MB:CP yielded 6.8% (d+ = 0.437 ± 0.114) more fruit than those treated with very high rates of CP (336–396 kg·ha–1), and 15.4% (d+ = 1.190 ± 0.134) more than soils treated with commercially realistic rates (168–224 kg·ha–1). Similar to the comparison using NF soils, the efficacy of very high rates of CP appeared to diminish over cycles of strawberry cultivation; MB:CP increased yield 2.2% (d+ = 0.043 ± 0.162) in the first CP production cycle, 10.6% (d+ = 0.588 ± 0.174) and 13.7% (d+ = 2.054 ± 0.401) in the following two cycles. Combinations of dichloropropene (DP) and CP were no more effective than were lower rates of CP alone, and MB:CP conferred a 14.4% (d+ = 0.962 ± 0.162) yield advantage over mixtures of DP:CP. Mixtures of MB:CP increased yield 29.8% (d+ = 3.199 ± 0.287) compared with metam sodium (MS). The standardized effect was similar when comparing MB:CP combinations with either MS or NF soils, suggesting little effect of MS on the yield response. Chemical names used: trichloronitromethane (chloropicrin); 1,3-dichloropropene (dichloropropene); sodium N-methyldithiocarbamate (metam sodium).