ISHS Acta Horticulturae 567: IV International Strawberry Symposium
BREEDING FOR LATE FLOWERING AND FRUITING IN JUNE-BEARING CULTIVARS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM |
| Author: | D.W. Simpson |
| Keywords: | strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa, June-bearer, flowering time, dormancy |
| Abstract:
In the UK there is a strong demand for strawberries throughout the summer and late June-bearing cultivars, which crop from late June to mid-July, are highly desirable. HRI has released three very late flowering cultivars: Pandora, Laura and Sophie. Studies on these cultivars and other late-flowering germplasm have demonstrated that the late season is usually associated with other, undesirable characteristics, such as excessive vegetative vigour and poor habit. Late-flowering genotypes with independent pedigrees often show similarities in their vegetative phenotype. A large number of crosses have been made between late-flowering genotypes but very few selections from these progenies have had the combination of characteristics required in commercial cultivars. Data from progenies of two half-diallel crossing programmes have confirmed that these undesirable vegetative traits show additive quantitative inheritance. It is proposed that excessive vigour in late-flowering lines may be partly a function of the increased period of vegetative growth between emergence from dormancy and flowering. A programme of backcrossing was undertaken to attempt improve the plant characteristics while maintaining late flowering and fruiting. This has been partially successful and HRI now has several late-flowering selections that have a similar season to Pandora but reduced vegetative vigour. Some of these have an extended period of dormancy resulting in a reduced time for vegetative growth prior to flowering. | |
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