EST‐SSR markers from Fragaria vesca L. cv. Yellow Wonder

Fourteen microsatellite primer pairs were developed from a cDNA library of heat‐treated seedlings of Fragaria vesca cv. yellow wonder. Transferability to 13 species of Fragaria ranged from 71% in diploid species F. gracilis Losinsk., F. iinumae Makino, F. nilgerrensis Schltdl. ex J. Gay and F. nipponica Makino, to 100% in octoploid domestic strawberry and its progenitors. Polymorphism was high in polyploid Fragaria species. However, polymorphism and heterozygosity of eight EST‐SSRs (expressed sequence tag–simple sequence repeats) was low in 14 F. vesca genotypes.     

二斑叶螨为害对草莓叶片H2O2、MDA含量以及部分防御酶活性的影响

本文旨在探究二斑叶螨Tetranychus urticae为害对草莓Fragaria×ananassa Duch.叶片内过氧化氢（H2O2）、丙二醛（MDA）含量以及部分防御酶活性的影响。在草莓苗上接种不同数量（5~25头）的二斑叶螨,分别在接种后的24 h、48 h和72 h取样,分析草莓叶片内H2O2、MDA的含量以及部分防御酶的活性。结果显示,二斑叶螨为害的草莓叶片内H2O2和MDA的含量以及超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）的活性随着时间的延长而呈现先升后降的趋势,在二斑叶螨持续为害草莓叶片24 h、48 h和72 h时,受损草莓叶片中H2O2的含量均显著高于对照（P<0.05）,不同密度二斑叶螨为害的草莓叶片中H2O2的含量均显著高于对照（P<0.05）,但与取食时间关系不大。当为害时间达到48 h时,MDA的含量和SOD的活性均达到最高峰,此时它们均与二斑叶螨的密度密切相关。当二斑叶螨为25头/叶时,MDA的含量和SOD的活性分别约是对照的3.6倍和10倍。过氧化物酶（POD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）的活性随时间延长不断升高,均在二斑叶螨为害72 h时达到最高峰。同时,二斑叶螨的为害时间和为害密度之间存在一定的交互作用。以上结果表明草莓叶片主要通过调节其体内H2O2和MDA的含量以及各种防御酶活性的变化,对二斑叶螨的为害产生应激反应。     

茉莉酸类物质在草莓果实发育中的作用及其分子机理分析

该研究以草莓‘红颜’(Fragaria ananassa Duch.‘Benihoppe’)为试材,于草莓花后15d采用注射法开始注射茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA,浓度为400μmol/L),分析MeJA对草莓果实发育进程的影响及其相关基因的表达,以揭示MeJA在草莓果实发育和成熟调控中的作用及其分子机理。结果表明:(1)MeJA处理草莓果实后,果实变红成熟期比对照显著提前,平均提前4d;(2)随着草莓果实发育成熟,MeJA处理的茉莉酸(JA)合成基因FaOPDA1的表达量迅速升高;(3)FaOPDA1基因在草莓果实中的超表达能够促进草莓果实提前成熟3~5d,且FaOPDA1基因的超表达能够诱导与草莓果实成熟相关的一系列基因的表达量升高,从而促进草莓果实提前成熟。     

Role of foliar hemibiotrophic and fruit resistance in anthracnose‐resistant strawberry genotypes for annual hill plasticulture systems

Anthracnose fruit rot (AFR) caused by Colletotrichum acutatum is one of the most devastating diseases of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) in plasticulture systems in the Southeast US. Host resistance offers the best option to limit crop losses in both nursery and fruiting fields. To evaluate levels of anthracnose resistance and elucidate the role of foliar and fruit resistance in overall field AFR resistance, we tested 14 strawberry genotypes including numerous selections from the North Carolina State University strawberry breeding programme. Inoculations of plug plants with three representative C. acutatum isolates prior to field‐set indicated that the commercially standard cultivar Chandler was highly susceptible, with an average fruit rot incidence of over 72% the following spring. In contrast, breeding lines such as NC C99‐13 and NC C02‐63 showed superior resistance with AFR incidence values of 23.6% and 11.1%, respectively, and showed superior marketable yields. An average hemibiotrophic infection (HI) severity on foliage (percent leaf area covered with acervular growth after paraquat treatment and incubation) did not correlate (r = 0.57) well with in vitro AFR severity on detached fruit, indicating different mechanisms may be operative for resistance to foliar HI and fruit rot resistance. Multiple regression analysis indicated that in vitro fruit rot resistance expressed by lesion diameter and severity of foliar hemibiotrophic infections may be utilized to predict field AFR incidence. Strawberry genotypes bred for resistance against both fruit rot and foliar HI could be effectively selected by using rank‐sum classification methods and this process offers an effective strategy to advance selections for superior AFR field resistance.     

Abscisic acid perception and signaling transduction in strawberry: A model for non-climacteric fruit ripening

On basis of fruit differential respiration and ethylene effects, climacteric and non-climacteric fruits have been classically defined. Over the past decades, the molecular mechanisms of climacteric fruit ripening were abundantly described and found to focus on ethylene perception and signaling transduction. In contrast, until our most recent breakthroughs, much progress has been made toward understanding the signaling perception and transduction mechanisms for abscisic acid (ABA) in strawberry, a model for non-climacteric fruit ripening. Our reports not only have provided several lines of strong evidences for ABA-regulated ripening of strawberry fruit, but also have demonstrated that homology proteins of Arabidopsis ABA receptors, including PYR/PYL/RCAR and ABAR/CHLH, act as positive regulators of ripening in response to ABA. These receptors also trigger a set of ABA downstream signaling components, and determine significant changes in the expression levels of both sugar and pigment metabolism-related genes that are closely associated with ripening. Soluble sugars, especially sucrose, may act as a signal molecular to trigger ABA accumulation through an enzymatic action of 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase 1 (FaNCED1). This mini-review offers an overview of these processes and also outlines the possible, molecular mechanisms for ABA in the regulation of strawberry fruit ripening through the ABA receptors.     

草莓种苗壮苗指数模型的构建与质量评价

随着我国草莓栽培面积逐年增加,草莓种苗需求量越来越大,为了确保种苗育苗质量,亟需开展壮苗评价的研究。本研究以生长40 d的‘红颜’穴盘苗为对象,在测定地上部和地下部生长、鲜重、干重等16项指标的基础上,分别构建单项指标隶属函数,使用加权模糊评判法计算种苗综合评价指数;利用主成分分析筛选的关键指标组成多个壮苗指数模型,与种苗综合评价指数进行相关性分析后,确定最佳草莓壮苗指数模型并进行验证。结果表明: 随机选取的320株草莓种苗16项指标存在显著差异,综合评价指数为0.165～0.817,可作为壮苗指数模型构建和种苗质量评价的依据。主成分分析将16项指标划分为地上部相关指标、地下部相关指标和色素指标3个主成分,累计贡献率达到79.7%;从每个主成分中选择贡献值最大的3个指标随机组成27种壮苗指数模型,通过相关性分析筛选出与综合评价指数相关性最大的5个壮苗指数模型,其中“地上干重×根系表面积×叶绿素a”的相关性最高,用‘红颜’、‘香野’和‘甜查理’种苗验证相关系数均最大,分别为0.879、0.924和0.975,确定可作为草莓壮苗指数计算模型。以综合评价指数为种苗质量分级依据,可将种苗健壮程度分为3个等级:等级Ⅰ(综合评价指数≥0.5,壮苗指数≥4.0)为优质苗,等级Ⅱ(综合评价指数0.3～0.5,壮苗指数0.5～4.0)为合格苗,等级Ⅲ(综合评价指数≤0.3,壮苗指数≤0.5)为弱苗。研究结果可为草莓或其他种苗壮苗指数计算和种苗健壮程度评价提供理论依据与科学方法。     

Polyamines in normal and auxin-induced strawberry fruit development

The possible involvement of polyamines during strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) fruit development was investigated. Putrescine, spermidine, and spermine were identified in strawberry receptacles and achenes at all stages of development. Total (free) polyamine levels decreased from a maximum of 485 nmol g⁻¹ fresh weight at pollination to a minimum of 55 nmol g⁻¹ fresh weight in ripe receptacles. Total polyamine concentrations during corresponding stages of development were consistently higher in achenes than in receptacles, and ranged from 891 to 203 nmol g⁻¹ fresh weight. Removal of achenes from the surface of developing receptacles 10 days after pollination reduced receptacle growth, and re-initiation of growth by application of 1 m M α-naphtaleneacetic acid (α-NAA) was accompanied by a rapid increase in polyamine concentrations 24 h after treatment. Polyamine content per receptacle increased >3-fold in normally developing receptacles and in de-achened, auxin-treated receptacles 10 days after removal of achenes, but did not increase during this period in de-achened receptacles not treated with exogenous auxin. α-NAA increased growth and polyamine levels to a greater extent than the structurally related, but less effective auxin, β-NAA. Polyamine concentrations in receptacles with intact achenes remained similar to those of auxin depleted (de-achened) receptacles, implying that the concentration of these compounds may not be limiting following achene removal.     

Strawberry Genes and Genomics

Despite its value as a crop and potential utility as an experimental system, relatively little is known about the molecular-genetic aspects of inheritance or physiology in the cultivated strawberry (Fragaria xananassa). This lack of information exists at a time when biotechnology may offer important remedies to address traditional and contemporary challenges that growers face. An improved understanding of genome structure will hasten the development of molecular markers and unveil clues to the composition of this unique, octoploid genome. Definition of gene function will guide the generation of transgenic resources for research use and possibly toward cultivar development. This review seeks to compile and present the current knowledge state of the molecular-genetic basis of cultivated strawberry genomic form and function. Ongoing studies promise to expand the use of genomic tools and appropriate model systems to rapidly discern the structural and functional basis for traits of interest to agriculture, such as those associated with disease, ripening, and volatile production. Together these studies bring new molecular tools to dissect complex traits, implement marker-assisted selection and address important physiological questions in the cultivated strawberry, the Fragaria genus, and the Rosaceae family.