Large-scale standardized phenotyping of strawberry in RosBREED

Authors: MATHEY, MEGAN - Oregon State University; MOOKERJEE, SONALI - Michigan State University; GUNDUZ, KAZIM - Michigan State University; HANCOCK, JAMES - Michigan State University; IEZZONI, AMY - Michigan State University; MAHONEY, LISE - University Of New Hampshire; DAVIS, THOMAS - University Of New Hampshire; Bassil, Nahla; Hummer, Kim; STEWART, PHILIP - Driscoll'S; WHITAKER, VANCE - University Of Florida; SARGENT, DANIEL - Fondazione Edmund Mach; DENOYES, BEATRICE - Institut National De La Recherche Agronomique (INRA); AMAYA, IRAIDA - Research And Training Institute For Agricultural And Fisheries Of Andalusia, Ifapa; VAN DE WEG, ERIC - Wageningen Agricultural University; Finn, Chad

Submitted to: Journal of the American Pomological Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/22/2013
Publication Date: 10/1/2013
Citation: Mathey, M.M., Mookerjee, S., Gunduz, K., Hancock, J.F., Iezzoni, A.F., Mahoney, L.L., Davis, T.M., Bassil, N.V., Hummer, K.E., Stewart, P.J., Whitaker, V.M., Sargent, D.J., Denoyes, B., Amaya, I., Van De Weg, E., Finn, C.E. 2013. Large-scale standardized phenotyping of strawberry in RosBREED. Journal of American Pomological Society. 67:205-216.

Interpretive Summary: In an effort to implement marker-assisted breeding in Rosaceae, many traits need to be characterized in diverse germplasm. The USDA-NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative-funded RosBREED project includes breeding programs of four Rosaceae crops (apple, peach, cherry and strawberry). Phenotyping each crop for specific horticultural and commercial traits is an important process needed to translate genomic knowledge through marker-assisted breeding into enhanced breeding efficiency. This data will directly aid in the identification of quantitative trait loci or marker-trait associations that will be used to assist breeding programs in the future. Large-scale, standardized phenotyping protocols have been set up for each crop. The standardized phenotyping protocol for strawberries was agreed upon by the breeding teams in Oregon, Michigan, New Hampshire, California and Florida and includes four trait categories: phenology and other flower-related traits, plant characteristics, fruit characteristics, and fruit chemistry traits. We describe how each of the traits in the categories was evaluated. A summary of mean values for 37 traits of the genotypes planted at the RosBREED locations in 2011 and 2012 is provided. The phenotypic data for widely used founder germplasm that has contributed to current cultivars is available through the “Breeders Toolbox” at the Genome Database for Rosaceae (http://www.rosaceae.org/breeders_toolbox).

Technical Abstract: A large, multi-institutional, international, research project with the goal of bringing genomicists and plant breeders together was funded by USDA-NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative. Apple, cherry, peach, and strawberry are the Rosaceous crops included in the project. Many (900+) strawberry genotypes were propagated and planted in Oregon, New Hampshire, Michigan, California and Florida. As a group, the breeders and breeder trainees worked together to develop a standardized protocol for 37 traits so that we evaluated all the plants in a similar way at each location. Measurements or observations were made on all the genotypes for all the traits and for all the genotypes in 2011 and 2012. In addition to the breeders using these descriptors to describe all of the genotypes, the genomicists in the project will genotype (determine the genetic code) for each of these genotypes. In the future, the phenotypic and genotypic data will be analyzed together to identify genetic markers for as many traits as possible. This will help breeders be more efficient in the future. This standardized protocol will allow other breeding programs with different strawberry germplasm to use a standardized protocol to evaluate their plant material and compare it to the phenotypic and genotypic information available through the “Breeders Toolbox” at the Genome Database for Rosaceae (http://www.rosaceae.org/breeders_toolbox).