Technical Abstract: The native distribution for crop wild relatives of Fragaria is circumpolar boreal, through Europe, East and Southeast Asia, North America (including Mexico), on a few Pacific Islands and into parts of South America. The majority of the 20+ wild strawberry species occur in Asia, although the two wild octoploid progenitors of the hybrid cultivated strawberry, F. ×ananassa subsp. ananassa are American. These American strawberries, the Virginian (F. virginiana subsp. virginiana) with small red fruit, and a white-fruited landrace of the beach strawberry (F. chiloensis subsp. chiloensis forma chiloensis) were brought to France in the 18th century from eastern North America and Chile. The origin of the hybrid strawberry is described. The taxonomic classification of strawberry species and their ploidy is given. Classical and molecular genetic studies include morphological markers in addition to current progress in nuclear, chloroplast and mitochondrial markers. The genomics resources developed in strawberry contain F. vesca as a model perennial species. Functional improvements of strawberry are also discussed. The development of the global conservation strategy for strawbery genetic resources is described. The chapter finishes with a section on biotechnological approaches considering benefits and risks. While the cultivated strawberry is recognized as a significant economically important fruit, conservation support for wild relatives lags behind those of other economically and agriculturally important crops.