A scientific study by Ifapa in Malaga identifies specific regions of the strawberry genome to improve its firmness

A team of researchers from Ifapa in Malaga has identified regions of the strawberry genome that influence its firmness, which has allowed them to develop a molecular marker to select varieties that are 50% firmer more efficiently.

The study analysed 124 strawberry varieties from the Fragaria Germplasm Bank, evaluating traits such as size, firmness, sugar content and vitamin C. It was found that genetic improvement has increased fruit firmness and size, but reduced its sugar and vitamin C content.

Scientists have found that a region of chromosome 6A influences fruit firmness through the FaPG1 gene. This breakthrough makes it easier to select firmer strawberries using genetic tools, speeding up the breeding process without relying solely on traditional observation.

The study, funded by Spanish and European institutions, has been published in the scientific journal The Plant Genome, which can be consulted online: https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/tpg2.20509