Tissue culture and subsequent field evaluation of strawberry

Abstract

Strawberry plants of cv. Redlands Crimson, free of strawberry mild yellow edge virus (MYEV), have been produced by apical tip culture on a modified Adams (1972) medium. Explants from six other cultivars were grown on this medium and considerable variation in growth response was observed. No shoot growth was obtained on this medium with explants of cv. Phenomenal, however, growth was initiated on a modified Lee and De Fossard (1975) medium. Low media pH (4.2) inhibited shoot growth. Yield of six clones of cv. Redlands Crimson, free of MYEV and one virus infected clone were monitored for a fruiting season. Removal of MYEV had no effect on fruit quality, but uninfected clones had a 13% yield advantage of marketable fruit over the whole season. This increase was shown to occur during the two fruiting flushes and was a result of more vigorous plants having the capacity to produce more fruit. Commercial plantings of clones free of MYEV over five seasons have been characterised by high early yields.