Woodland Strawberry DNA Sequence Should Result In Hardier, Healthier Fruit

An international effort led by the University of Florida and Virginia Tech has just published the genome sequence for the woodland strawberry—a wild, less genetically complex relative of the familiar cultivated strawberry. Knowing the strawberry’s DNA sequence will give breeders the ability to grow plants that produce more fruit with less environmental impact. This will also allow them to create fruit that is more resistant to environmental stresses and has higher levels of healthful phytochemicals. In addition, unlocking the strawberry’s genome sequence may result in advances in related crops, such as apples, peaches, almonds, cherries, raspberries, and plums.