Genetic diversity of modern strawberry varieties of domestic breeding
Authors: Marchenko L. A. 
Published: October 2020

The object of research was the pedigrees of strawberry varieties. An analysis of the genetic relationship of 129 varieties of domestic strawberry breeding, 6 parent forms, 2 of which are foreign varieties was carried out. Until the 1930s, strawberry culture in the USSR was based exclusively on Western European varieties: König Albert von Sachsen, Roschinskaya, Victoria, White Pine, Apricose, Konigin Luise, Noble Laxton, Siger, Spate von Leopoldshall, Kent’s Miracle, Sharpliss, Muto, etc. During the transition to the commercial production, these varieties were not insufficiently tolerant, which required the creation of a new assortment for various conditions of cultivation, and served as the beginning of the implementation of domestic strawberry breeding programs. At present, the State register of breeding achievements approved for use in 2020 includes 106 strawberry varieties, of which 82 are of domestic breeding. Existing domestic varieties have different geographical origins. The main Centers for strawberry breeding are: All-Russian Horticultural Institute for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery, I.V. Michurin Federal Research Center, N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, North Caucasus Federal Research Center For Horticulture, Viticulture, and Winemaking, etc. Initially, the parent forms for creating a domestic assortment were European and American varieties: Culver, Deutsch Evern, Georg Soltwedel, Konigin Luise, Markee, König Albert von Sachsen Marshall, Macherauchs Marieva, Macherauchs Fruhernte, Muto, Premier, Red Coat, Red Gauntlet, Robinson, Senga Sengana, Sieger, Sparkle, Spate von Leopoldshall, Wander von Kothen. Analysis of pedigrees of 135 varieties from the 23 literature sources allowed to identify the most effective in the formation of domestic assortment genotypes of strawberry: Komsomolska (10 varieties in the first generation; 12 in the second; 14 in the third, 2 in the fourth), Mysovka (12 varieties in the first generation; 20 in the second; 21 – in the third; 2 in the fourth), Obilnaya (7 varieties in the first generation; 22 – the second; 20 for the third; 6 for the fourth), Festivalnaya (21 varieties in the first generation; 19 – in the second; 6 in the third), Culver (20 varieties in the first generation; 16 – in the second, 3 – in the third), Senga Sengana (13 varieties in the first generation; 7 – in the second; 4-in the third). The originator of 37.8% of domestic varieties included in the State register is the Obilnaya variety (Wander von Kothen × Deutsch Evern). On the basis of the Festivalnaya variety obtained with his participation (Obilnaya × Premier), an assortment was created that has not lost its relevance at the present time (26 varieties are included in the State register). The varieties Mysovka (Wander von Kothen × Deutsch Evern) and Zenga Zengana (Markee × Sieger) are included in the pedigree of 13 and 14 modern varieties, respectively. Based on the Komsomolka and Culver varieties, 7 and 9 varieties were created, respectively, which are currently included in the State register. Intraspecific hybridization has not exhausted the possibility of creating a genetically diverse breeding material. Taking into account the fact that domestic varieties often have closely related origin, it is desirable to involve introduced forms and varieties obtained with their participation in the breeding process more widely. The results of using various methods of breeding (inbreeding, saturating crosses) indicate that it is possible to further improve strawberry varieties creating donors of a high level of economically valuable traits. The current level of scientific knowledge and development of biotechnological research allows us to “model” varieties, including in the genotype of strawberry genes and gene blocks of valuable traits from closely related species, reducing the duration of the breeding process.