Improvement of the technique applied to preserve species and varieties of Fragaria L. in the field genebank at Krymsk Experiment Breeding Station of VIR

A collection of Fragaria L. species and varieties established at Krymsk Experiment Breeding Station of VIR has been preserved for a long time and regularly updated. An algorithm for the work with its accessions was proposed and tested in practice in the field genebank of the Station. It is presented as a scheme that includes the following collections: quarantine/identification, in vitro, pomological/botanical, in-depth research, and genetic. The accessions are sources and donors of traits important for breeding and represent the most valuable material for targeted crossings in programs developing and releasing strawberry cultivars, primarily garden ones.

The effectiveness of their utilization can be seen in the adaptable high-yielding cultivars developed at Krymsk Station in recent years: ‘Zenkora’ (Zenga-Zengana × Cardinal) was patented, and ‘Pelageya’ [Elizaveta II (clone Coroleva Elizaveta) × Irma] included in the State Register of the Russian Federation. All parents involved in the development of these cultivars were sources of useful agronomic traits identified in the genetic collection: ‘Zenga-Zengana’ (productivity and adaptability), ‘Cardinal’ (large fruit size and fruit density), ‘Elizaveta II’ (everbearing habit and drought resistance), and ‘Irma’ (productivity).

Physical conditions of plant cultivation and planting rates per area unit have been optimized at all stages of maintenance of strawberry accessions to support their good growth and development. Such technique ensures complete safety of healthy accessions representing pure cultivars and wild species with a possibility of using the genotypes preserved in the genetic collection in breeding practice.

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