ARS | Publication request: Chromosome numbers and flow cytometry of strawberry wild relatives

Submitted to: Acta Horticulturae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: February 1, 2011
Publication Date: June 11, 2012
Citation: Hummer, K.E., Postman, J.D., Bassil, N.V., Nathewet, P., Yanagi, T. 2012. Chromosome Numbers and Flow Cytometry of Strawberry Wild Relatives. Acta Horticulturae. 948:169-174.

Interpretive Summary: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Clonal Germplasm Repository (NCGR), Corvallis, Oregon, maintains the national collection for strawberry genetic resources. The goal of this genebank is to acquire, conserve and evaluate species to represent the worldwide diversity of strawberries. Chromosome numbers of root tip cells were counted for 45 strawberry plants representing 27 species. The base number was seven. A plant with an unusual irregular number of chromosomes, and three plants with 10 sets of chromosomes were observed. These plant are available to researchers for breeding and genetic research.

Technical Abstract: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Clonal Germplasm Repository (NCGR), Corvallis, Ore., maintains the national collection for strawberry (Fragaria L.) germplasm. The goal of this genebank is to acquire, conserve and evaluate species to represent the worldwide diversity of this genus. Chromosome numbers of root tip cells were counted for 45 strawberry plants representing 27 taxa (species and varieties). The base chromosome number was seven. An aneuploid, 17 diploids, 5 tetraploids, 1 hexaploid, 18 octoploids, and 3 decaploids genotypes were observed. The aneuploid was from F. chiloensis subsp. pacifica and two decaploids were found in North American F. virginiana subsp. platypetala. Propagules of these plant accessions are available to researchers for breeding and genetic research.