Improving strawberry fruit quality through breeding: cultivar performance and biochemical diversity

Monica STURZEANU; Oana HERA; Mădălina MILITARU; Loredana E. VÎJAN

doi:10.15835/nbha53314704

Authors

Monica STURZEANU Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti, 402 Mărului Street, Pitești, Argeș, 117450 (RO) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7354-607X
Oana HERA Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti, 402 Mărului Street, Pitești, Argeș, 117450 (RO) https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1210-1863
Mădălina MILITARU Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti, 402 Mărului Street, Pitești, Argeș, 117450 (RO) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4333-4823
Loredana E. VÎJAN National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, Piteşti University Centre,1 Targu din Vale Street, Pitesti, 110040 (RO) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1607-4947

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha53314704

Keywords:

biochemical diversity, cultivar evaluation, fruit quality, Fragaria × ananassa, pedigree analysis, yield performance

Abstract

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) breeding has a long tradition worldwide, driven by the need to combine high yields with superior fruit quality and resilience to environmental challenges. At the Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitești, Romania, breeding activities began in the 1980s and expanded significantly in the 21st century. The first registered cultivar, ‘Premial’, released in 1989, remains the dominant variety grown in Romania. The program is based on traditional cross-pollination and recurrent field selection, in which new seedlings are rapidly evaluated and the best individuals are advanced as parents for the next generation. Breeding objectives target disease resistance, early and consistent yields, and plant architecture that facilitates harvesting. Market preferences emphasize uniform fruit size, colour and shape, while consumers especially value flavour. To provide a reference for future breeding, this study analyzed seven cultivars released between 1980 and 2019. Pedigree data were examined to identify the most influential parental genotypes, and the genetic contribution of ancestral parents was estimated for each cultivar. Agronomic performance, yield and fruit quality were also evaluated. Among the tested cultivars, ‘Ireal’ and ‘Sarom’ showed the best overall performance for yield and fruit quality, while ‘Coral’ was outstanding for sweetness (11.50 °Brix). ‘Sarom’ also exhibited large fruit size (24.20 g/fruit) and high firmness (37.73 N), making it particularly suitable for storage and commercial distribution. These findings highlight the potential of newly developed cultivars, especially ‘Sarom’ and ‘Ireal’, for cultivation under local conditions and as valuable resources for future breeding programs.

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