Cytogenetics and Evolution in American Fragaria

Fragaria ananassa Duch., the modern cultivated octoploid strawberry (2n = 8x = 56), is the culmination of all strawberry evolution as we know it. It was derived from the two American octoploid species: F. virginiana L., native to North America north of Mexico (primarily the Atlantic seaboard, Great Plains, and westem mountain ranges); and F. chiloensis Duch., native to west coastal North America and the west coast and Andes Mountains of South America. Both natural species are products of ancient polyploidization and natural selection. The modern cultivated strawberry (F. ananassa) is of recent origin [in Europe between 1714 and 1759, according to There is no convincing evidence that any of the lower ploidy level Fragaria spp. of Europe, Asia, or elsewhere were directly involved in the synthesis of the modern octoploid cultivars, as suggested by some