International Journal of Horticulture, 2024, Vol.14, No.2, 78-88 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 78 Scientific Review Open Access The Fruit Revolution in the Genomic Era: Unveiling the Journey of Strawberry Genetic Improvement Ben J.L. Zhong Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572024, Hainan, China Corresponding author: zhongjianli8888@gmail.com International Journal of Horticulture, 2024, Vol.14, No.2 doi: 10.5376/ijh.2024.14.0009 Received: 13 Apr., 2024 Accepted: 16 Apr., 2024 Published: 20 Apr., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Zhong, This is an open-access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Zhong B.J.L., 2024, The fruit revolution in the genomic era: unveiling the journey of strawberry genetic improvement, International Journal of Horticulture, 14(2): 78-88 (doi: 10.5376/ijh.2024.14.0009) On March 19, 2024, research results from the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of California, Davis, were published in the journal Nature Communications. Mitchell J. Feldmann is the first author, and Steven J. Knapp is the corresponding author, with the paper titled "Genetic gains underpinning a little-known strawberry Green Revolution." This research was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Specialty Crop Research Initiative (#2017-51181-26833; #2022-51181-38328). The study highlights the genetic basis for the significant increase in strawberry yields in the United States and globally since 1960, particularly through breeding achievements of the Green Revolution. The increase in strawberry yields is attributed to genetic improvements and advancements in cultivation techniques, including the introduction of "perpetual flowering" hybrid varieties that are not influenced by photoperiod, a breakthrough achieved in the 1970s that doubled strawberry production in California. 1 Experimental Data Analysis The study assessed the contribution of breeding to strawberry yields by analyzing phenotypes of a century-old breeding population and its hybrids in coastal environments of California. Using genomic prediction methods, the study revealed that since the 1950s, transgressive segregation and increased phenotypic diversity have led to significant enhancements in additive genetic variation. The study also discovered that the introduction of "perpetual flowering" hybrid varieties in the 1970s was a key breeding breakthrough that facilitated the doubling of strawberry yields and rapid expansion of the California strawberry industry. Figure 1 displays statistics on strawberry production in the US and Europe from 1961 to 2021. Data sourced from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/). The chart shows a growth trend over time for both the US, represented by solid blue circles, and Europe, represented by solid gray circles. Linear regression lines are shown in solid blue for the US and solid black for Europe, with a 95% confidence interval represented by a gray band. Additionally, it is evident that the US has experienced a steeper increase in production compared to Europe, as depicted in the first chart showing production per hectare. The second chart shows similar growth trends in cultivated area for both regions, though the increase is more pronounced in the US. The third chart, reflecting total production, reconfirms the significantly higher growth rate of the US compared to Europe. Therefore, the data indicate that over the past 60 years, the US strawberry industry has experienced significant growth in production, cultivated area, and total output, likely linked to advancements in agricultural technology, breeding, and production efficiency. In contrast, Europe's growth, while stable, has been slower, possibly influenced by factors such as land use efficiency, agricultural policies, and market demand.
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