ANALYSIS OF PROMISING STRAWBERRY HYBRID FORMS BY FAOMT AND FAFAD1 FRUIT AROMA GENES

An important consumer trait of strawberry fruits is their aroma. Among the most important strawberry fruit aroma compounds are γ-decalactone and mesifurane. The content of γ-decalactone in fruits is controlled by the expression of the FaFAD1 gene. The content of mesifurane in fruits is controlled by the FaOMT gene. Identification of genotypes carrying the target alleles of the aromatic complex genes is an important stage in improving the strawberry assortment and creating strawberry varieties with aromatic fruits. The purpose of the study is molecular genetic analysis of strawberry hybrid seedlings by the FaOMT and FaFAD1 genes to identify genotypes promising in breeding for fruit aroma. Promising selected and elite forms of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) created at the FSSI “I.V. Michurin FSC” were used as biological objects. To identify the allelic state FaOMT gene, the codominant molecular marker FaOMT-SI/NO was used. To identify FaFAD1 gene, the molecular marker FaFAD1 was used. Using the FaOMT-SI/NO marker, the functional allele of the FaOMT gene (FaOMT+) was identified in the following strawberry selected forms: 298-19-9-43 (FB2 F. orientalis Los., F. moschata Duch., F. × ananassa Duch.), 932-29 (F. virginiana subsp. platypetala (Rydb.) Staudt × ‘Feyerverk’), 928-12 (298-19-9-43 × ‘Privlekatelnaya’), 69-29 (‘Feyerverk’× ‘Bylinnaya’), 72-25, 72-71 (‘Privlekatelnaya’ × ‘Bylinnaya’) and 26-5 (‘Rubinovyy kulon’× 298-19-9-43). The FaFAD1 gene was identified in strawberry hybrids 72-25 (‘Privlekatelnaya’ × ‘Bylinnaya’), 56-8 (‘Gigantella’ × ‘Privlekatelnaya’) and 61-12 (‘Bylinnaya’ × ‘Olimpiyskaya nadezhda’). The strawberry selected form 72-25 (‘Privlekatelnaya’ × ‘Bylinnaya’) is characterized by a combination of functional alleles of both genes (FaOMT + FaFAD1). Involvement of these forms in hybridization will make it possible to intensify the process of creating new strawberry varieties with improved fruit aroma.