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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #81404
Title: IDENTIFICATION OF STRAWBERRY GERMPLASM WITH HIGH SUCROSE FRUIT

Author
item Perkins Veazie, Penelope
item Collins, Julie

Submitted to: Advances in Strawberry Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/12/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Strawberries contain three types of sugar, glucose, fructose, and sucrose Sucrose cannot be digested by American robins. As much as 10% of strawberry yields can be lost from migratory robin feeding damage. The sugar composition of fruit from 13 strawberry varieties was determined and two varieties were found to have unusually high levels of sucrose. Use of these varieties commercially or for breeding presents the opportunity for planting for bird avoidance.

Technical Abstract: Reports on the soluble content and composition of strawberry fruit vary widely. High fruit sucrose content may help deter wild bird depredation of crops. The soluble sugars glucose, fructose, and sucrose were extracted from strawberry fruit frozen within 30 minutes of harvest. Fruit from 2 of the 13 cultivars used were found to contain unusually6 high amounts of sucrose (50-57% of total sugars). All cultivars had higher amounts of sucrose than usually reported, because of the short time between harvest and freezing. Results indicate that germplasm containing relatively high amounts of sucrose is available, and one of these, the cultivar Seascape, is currently used commercially.