Characterization of a New White Colored Fragaria Accession by Genotyping Using STS- and SSR-Markers As Well As Cytological Analyses

Cultivation of Fragaria varieties with white fruit color is interesting due to the potentially missing allergen, which seems be linked to mutations in the anthocyanin pathway. However, cultivars with white fruit color show a lower performance regarding fruit size and weight in comparison to yields obtained by red colored fruit varieties. A new, non-commercial white colored fruit accession will be taxonomically classified using STS- and SSR-markers as well as cytological analyses. The STS-markers represent gene-specific primers from enzymes of the anthocyanin pathway as well as transcription factors. Apart from the new, white fruit non-commercial accession, the following cultivars were investigated: (1) Fragaria vesca cultivars: Blanc Amelioré, Red Baron Solemacher, Woodland strawberry,  (2) Fragaria vesca var. semperflorens:  White Hagmann, Yellow Wonder, White Baron Solemacher and (3) Fragaria x ananassa: White Pineapple, Mieze Schindler, Garden strawberry. These varieties represent diploid and octoploid as well as red and white colored fruit accessions. In Yellow Wonder, the fruit color gene (c) co-segregated with mutations in the F3H gene on linkage group 1. Our investigations will show whether in other white colored fruit varieties, and especially the new accession, the same gene is responsible for the change in fruit color. To increase the performance of the new white colored fruit accession, this accession will be crossed with high yielding red colored fruit to obtain higher yields. Diploid as well as octoploid varieties with white fruit color are on the market. Cytological investigation will prove the polyploidy level of our new white colored fruit variety.