Evaluation of the variability of berry quality traits in a number of varieties and hybrid forms of strawberry Fragaria × ananassa Duch

Relevance. High values of berry quality traits increase the breeding and production worth of strawberry varieties and hybrids. Important characteristics of the quality of berry are the average fruit weight, the firmness of the pulp of berry, the height and the largest diameter of berry. It is possible to achieve a high level of values of these traits by combining the maximum similarity of their variation in one genotype. The aim of this work was the description of the associated variability of berry quality traits in a number of strawberry varieties and hybrid selections and the identification of the most promising from them according to the studied characteristics.
Methods. The studies were carried out in 2019–2021, 12 varieties and 8 hybrid selections were studied for a number of economically significant traits of berry quality: average fruit weight, g; berry pulp firmness, g; height and largest diameter of the berry, mm; content of dry soluble solids in berries, Brix, %.
Results. It has been established that the genotype makes the greatest contribution to the diversity of the studied samples. A relatively small factorial influence of the growing year on the overall variation of varieties and selections for the studied traits (from 0.06 to 1.6% of the phenotypic variance) indicates a high adaptability potential of the studied forms for growing in this natural and climatic zone, due to the specific properties of the genotypes of varieties and strawberry hybrids. By calculating pairwise Pearson's correlations in combination with the cluster analysis by the Ward's method as one of the procedures of multivariate mathematical statistics, an evaluation of the compatibility of variability by the studied traits was given, the varieties promising for breeding and cultivation under regional conditions in terms of berry quality have been identified — Florence, Vivaldi, Nelli, Syria, Belrubi, Honeoye and Kemia, as well as valuable for breeding hybrids — 10-1-15 Belrubi × Nelli, 35-14-15 Belrubi × Onda and 35-11-15 Belrubi × Florence.

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