The short inflorescence mutation in diploid strawberry fragaria vesca affects inflorescence architecture and runner elongation

Authors: Slovin, Janet; Booker, Jasmine

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2024
Publication Date: 2/29/2024
Citation: Slovin, J.P., Booker, J.C. 2024. The short inflorescence mutation in diploid strawberry fragaria vesca affects inflorescence architecture and runner elongation. HortScience. 59(4):465-470. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17652-23.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17652-23

Interpretive Summary: Strawberries are an important horticultural crop that is suitable for production in urban agriculture under controlled environments. We have used genetic mutation as a tool to help us identify which genes control growth and development of strawberries so that we can provide breeders with information they require to improve fruit quality and production. We developed a mutant of the woodland strawberry that affects the lengths of plant structures such as the flower stalk and the runner, which are important for strawberry production. The mutant resulted from a mutation in a single gene, making it possible to identify the gene using DNA sequencing. Using microscopy, we showed that the flower stalk of the mutant is short because the cells of the stalk are shorter than normal. This mutant will allow plant researchers to identify genes controlling cell length and plant architecture so that breeders can use this information to develop novel strawberry varieties adapted to diverse production environments.

Technical Abstract: Mutants are useful for determining the genes that underlie a given trait. This information is highly useful for developing molecular markers for breeding and is the foundation for future genomic crop improvements. The dessert strawberry, Fragaria xananassa, is a valuable crop with high potential for increased controlled environment agriculture. The genome of the woodland strawberry F. vesca is the dominant genome of the four diploid strawberry subgenomes that contribute to the octoploid F. xananassa genome. F. vesca is therefore a useful system for determining gene function and should be a useful source of gene diversity for breeding of F. 'ananassa. Chemical mutagenesis of H4 F7-3, an inbred line of F. vesca resulted in one M2 line with smaller stature overall and which produces flowers on a very short peduncle close to the crown. This line was named short inflorescence (sin). The sin phenotype results from a single gene recessive mutation that is pleiotropic in that the mutation also affects internode lengths of runners as well as petiole elongation of sin plants. Microscopic characterization revealed that sin peduncles are most likely short because of a failure of cells to elongate. Inflorescences, runners, and petioles of sin plants were found to elongate in response to exogenous gibberellin. A brief characterization of sin plants is presented to facilitate collaborative studies of the line.