Introgression of unique characteristics of floral initiation under 24 hour day-length of Fragaria chiloensis ‘CHI-24-1’ into F. × ananassa

A unique flower initiation of the wild Junebearing strawberry strain ‘CHI-24-1’ in Fragaria chiloensis occurs under 24 h DL and high temperature conditions. To introduce the floral initiation characteristics of ‘CHI-24-1’ into cultivated strawberries of F. × ananassa, a cross pollination was conducted between ‘CHI-24-1’ and the Japanese short-day type strawberry cultivar ‘Nyoho’. The floral initiation of ‘CHI-24-1’ was induced in both parent and daughter plants linked with runners under a 24 h DL and 23/20 ∘C, but not 8 and 16 h DLs at the same temperatures. Of the 21 F1 hybrids grown under the 24 h DL, 12 showed flower truss production in the parent and/or daughter plants linked with runners. Among 64 F1 hybrids, 26 exposed to 8, 16 and 24 h DLs for 30 days produced no flower trusses. However, 32, one and five F1 hybrids produced flower trusses under the 24 h DL alone, 8 h DL alone and both the 8 and 24 h DLs, respectively. The results of the experiments indicated that none of the F1 hybrids were day-neutral plants, but approximately 60% had the characteristics of floral initiation under 24 h DL, which was inherited from the pollen parent of ‘CHI-24-1’. The importance of the unique floral initiation characteristics under 24 h DL with high temperature for strawberry breeding was discussed.