Quality attributes of garden strawberry fruits and breeding for their improvement

Abstract

Based on the analysis of domestic and foreign literary sources the information about the main quality attributes of garden strawberry fruits (large fruit size, hardness or firmness of fruits, biochemical composition) and breeding possibilities of their improvement at the present stage of breeding is summarized. Quality characteristics of garden strawberries are differentiated by groups: commercial, consumer, biochemical, physical and mechanical, technological. When growing garden strawberries for fresh consumption, the following large-fruited varieties were identified: Clery (Italy), Florence (UK), Alba (Italy), Roxana (Italy), Vima Xima (Netherlands), Vima Tarda (Netherlands), Vima Kimberly (Netherlands), Maya (Italy), San Andreas (USA), Taira, Nelly, Kemiya, Elegy, Alpha, Bereginya, Tsaritsa, Krymchanka 87, Arossa, Zarya, Krymskaya rannaya, Uniol, Jantarnaja. The trait of fruit hardness refers to the technological characteristics, but it also depends on the appearance of fruits during harvesting and transportation, which determines the commercial appearance. The following varieties have a high degree of fruit hardness: Tsaritsa, Surprise olympics, Rubinovy kulon, Feyerverk, Aquarelle, Alina, Nelli, Induka (Netherlands), Clery, Darselect (France), Tenira (Netherlands), Selekta (Canada), Polka (Netherlands), Irma (Italy), Alba, Asia (Italy), Syria (Italy), Onda (Italy), Vivaldi (Netherlands). Strawberry fruits are characterized by a unique composition of biologically active compounds that determine the nutritional value of the crop as a source of dietary and therapeutic and preventive nutrition. Studies indicate a predominant role of genotype in the accumulation of antioxidants in garden strawberry fruits, as well as the influence of growing conditions on the realization of the genetic potential of the varieties. Due to the development of cultivation technologies and the expansion of knowledge about the nutraceutical value of garden strawberries, improving the quality of fruits has become one of the priority objectives of breeding programs around the world. To increase the level of fruit quality traits in garden strawberry, the greatest effect can be achieved by using the original forms with proven donor properties on these traits in breeding.