Characterization of strawberry genotypes with low chilling requirement for cultivation in tropical regions

Abstract Although strawberry can be cultivated in all types of climate, it grows best in temperate climates, limiting its cultivation in certain countries or regions with tropical or subtropical climates. The objective of this study was to verify the genetic diversity of 34 pre-selected day-neutral strawberry genotypes in humid tropical and subtropical conditions through characterization of morpho-agronomic characteristics and molecular markers. The selection was based on qualitative and quantitative morpho-agronomic traits, using the Gower algorithm. Molecular characterization was performed with AFLP markers, using four combinations of selective primers. Six representative variables were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) and the Mulamba and Mock selection index. Soluble solids and luminosity of the outer part of the fruit did not differ among genotypes but presented values ​​above those usually found. AFLP markers detected 80% polymorphism, confirming high genetic variability among genotypes. Clustering based on molecular and agronomic data separated the genotypes into three groups, and the Mulamba and Mock index did not select individuals derived from 'Albion' or RVFS06. PCA highlighted the genotypes RVCA16M-1, RVDA11M-3, RVDA11M-4, and RVDA11M-25 as superior for most of the evaluated traits compared with the commercial cultivars 'Albion' and 'Monterey'. The PCA and selection index results indicate the reliability of the multivariate analysis for selecting superior strawberry genotypes for cultivation in tropical regions. Of the 34 genotypes analyzed, four stood out with potential for immediate cultivation.