Domestication arrested by introduction of the two following
species
from
the Americas
Still grown for flavor and aroma; no increase in fruit size
Fragaria virginiana - Virginia or scarlet strawberry
Octoploid, 2n=8x=56
Woods and meadows of North America, from East coast to Rocky
Mountains
and from New Mexico to Alaska
Famous quote: from Roger Williams (1643): "...this berry is
the
wonder
of all fruits growing naturally in these parts. It is of itself
excellent
so that one of the chiefest doctors of England was wont to say, that
God
could have made, but never did make a better berry. In some parts where
the Indians have planted, I have many times seen as many as would fill
a good ship, within few miles compass....
1620s: cultivation in Europe:
selection of hermaphroditic cultivars
A few varieties still grown: unique flavor
Fragaria chiloensis - the Chilean strawberry
Octoploid, 2n=8x=56
Origin:
probably on Pacific coast (sand dunes) of North America
dispersal by migratory birds to Hawaii, southern Chile,
Argentina:
wild populations in Chile: (photo P. Gepts)
Domestication:
by Araucanians in Chile
planting runners, selection for larger fruits, different colors
(red,
yellow,
white)
Dispersal:
by Spaniards: during 16th-17th centuries in cool highlands of
Latin
America
by French (naval officer Frezier) around 1715: to Paris, 5
female plants
production in Brittany around 1750 by interplanting with F.
moschata
and F. virginiana (sources of pollen)
Fragaria ananassa - the garden strawberry or pineapple
strawberry
Octoploid, 2n=2x=56
Origin:
cross F. chiloensis x F. virginiana
combines larger fruit size of F.c. and hermaphroditism
of F.v.
recognized by Antoine Nicolas Duchesne (1766): repeated the
cross and
grew
progeny, which matched F. ananassa in appearance. His theory
was
only accepted in 20th century. He was well-ahead of his time not only
because
of his finding but also because of his methodology.
History:
became main strawberry
additional diversity from California races of F. chiloense
--> "everbearing"
type, with greatly extended season
cross between F. ananassa and Rocky mountain race of F.
virginiana
(F. ovalis): drought, low temperatures
F.v. and F.c. both donors of additional
disease
resistances
More recently, commercial development by plant breeding: not clear to me, which species is involved!
'Mara des Bois' strawberry: out of this world flavor! (photo P. Gepts)
