EMS generated morphological mutants of a diploid strawberry, F. vesca

Cultivated strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) is a valuable perennial crop, yet little is known about the molecular physiology of its growth and development.  Because F. x ananassa is octoploid, the diploid woodland strawberry, F. vesca was developed as a model system for strawberry.  Genome sequence of F. vesca has been published, several inbred lines of this small plant are available, and F. vesca is transformable with Agrobacterium.  To increase the utility of F. vesca, we have generated ~1,000 M1 lines of F. vesca  Yellow Wonder 5AF7 using EMS and ENU treatment of imbibed seed. Concentration and treatment time were assessed for effects on germination, seedling viability, and production of chlorotic or variegated sectors.   M1 plants generated with 0.4% EMS or ENU for 4 hours were allowed to self in the greenhouse. Seed from ten randomly selected EMS-treated M1 plants were grown under controlled conditions in growth chambers and assessed for germination. Resulting seedlings and plants were scored for plant size and architecture, leaf color, texture and shape, flowering and flower morphology, ability to produce fruit, fruit shape and size, and presence or absence of pubescence on leaves and petioles in order to assess the extent of mutagenesis.  Over 1000 M2 plants were grown out in a screenhouse and assessed for the same set of morphological traits. Putative mutations affecting runnering and crown architecture, fruit shape, leaf shape and texture, flower structure, and plant size were found and are currently being analyzed.