ISHS Acta Horticulturae 567: IV International Strawberry Symposium
COLLECTION OF WILD AND CULTIVATED NATIVE FRAGARIA IN SOUTHERN CHILE |
| Authors: | M. Gambardella, R. Infante, J.M. López-Aranda, W. Faedi, PH. Roudeillac |
| Keywords: | strawberry, Centro Origin, geographical distribution, prospecting, and germplasm |
| Abstract:
In the summer of 1996, 1998 and 1999, prospecting trips were carried out in Southern Chile with the aim of collecting native Fragaria germplasm. Plants, runners and seeds were collected in natural ecosystems as well as in small family orchards where the white-fruited "Chilean strawberry" is cultivated. In the course of the three trips, differences in plant morphological characteristics were found. A first characterization in situ showed three different types. The first corresponds to wild plants that grow on the coast, very close to the shore, where they colonize beaches and sand dunes of the eastern shore of Chiloé island. They have small, bright dark green, coriaceous, hairless leaves and vigorous and at times very long runners, hermaphrodite flowers, and small red fruits. A second type is found normally in the lower elevations of mountain ranges in the regions of Araucanía and the Lakes District. In contrast with the first type, the plants are large in size, and the leaves --of a grayish green color-- have abundant trichomes. Flowers are pistillate, staminate or hermaphrodite. The fruit is also red and medium to small in size. The third type corresponds to the white cultivated strawberry, which is mainly found in small orchards of the coastal mountain range in the region of Bío Bío, near of Concepción city. Morphologically, this plant resembles the second type. It is vigorous, with hairy leaves, runner and petioles; it is distinguished by its characteristically large, white or pale pink fruit. The achenes are dark and they contrast sharply with the light fruit skin color. These strawberries have an intense aroma and are very sweet--therefore they are highly prized in the local markets. In this paper we present a detailed description of the places of collection and a characterization of the different strawberry types that colonize each of the areas surveyed in southern regions of Chile. | |
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