Strawberry shape uniformity is a complex trait, influenced by multiple genetic and environmental components. To complicate matters further, the phenotypic assessment of strawberry uniformity is confounded by the difficulty of quantifying geometric parameters 'by eye' and variation between assessors. An in-depth genetic analysis of strawberry uniformity has not been undertaken to date, due to the lack of accurate and objective data. Nonetheless, uniformity remains one of the most important fruit quality selection criteria for the development of a new variety. In this study, a 3D-imaging approach was developed to characterise berry shape uniformity. We show that circularity of the maximum circumference had the closest predictive relationship with the manual uniformity score. Combining five or six automated metrics provided the best predictive model, indicating that human assessment of uniformity is highly complex. Furthermore, visual assessment of strawberry fruit quality in a multi-parental QTL mapping population has allowed the identification of genetic components controlling uniformity. A "regular shape" QTL was identified and found to be associated with three uniformity metrics. The QTL was present across a wide array of germplasm, indicating a potential candidate for marker-assisted breeding, while the potential to implement genomic selection is explored. A greater understanding of berry uniformity has been achieved through the study of the relative impact of automated metrics on human perceived uniformity. Furthermore, the comprehensive definition of strawberry shape uniformity using 3D imaging tools has allowed precision phenotyping, which has improved the accuracy of trait quantification and unlocked the ability to accurately select for uniform berries.

Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) is a whitefly-transmitted crinivirus with a bipartite RNA genome inducing yellowing diseases in greenhouse and outdoor tomato plants. In this study, both genomic RNA components of a Greek isolate (Gr-535) of ToCV were sequenced. They contained 8594 nucleotides (nt) and 8242 nt and shared 97% and 99% sequence identity with Spanish and American isolates, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis and pairwise nucleotide and amino acid sequence comparisons showed that the Greek isolate clustered together with the American ToCV isolate. Nevertheless, the Greek and Spanish isolates shared several common deletions and extra stretches of nucleotides in the untranslated regions of their genomes when compared to the American isolate, suggesting genetic recombination. Prediction of putative structures of the 3 ′ -terminus of ToCV RNA 1 showed the presence of four stem loops and a pseudo-knot, while the putative structure of the 3 ′ -terminus of ToCV RNA 2 varied between the three sequenced isolates. Diagnostic dot-blot hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays indicated that ToCV could easily be detected in 20 ng of total RNA extracts from infected plants. Dot-blot hybridization could also be performed for virus diagnosis using infected crude plant extracts.

Over the last two centuries, breeders have drastically modified the fruit quality of strawberries through artificial selection. However, there remains significant variation in quality across germplasm with scope for further improvements to be made. We reported extensive phenotyping of fruit quality and yield traits in a multi-parental strawberry population to allow genomic prediction and quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN) identification, thereby enabling the description of genetic architecture to inform the efficacy of implementing advanced breeding strategies. A negative relationship (r = −0.21) between total soluble sugar content and class one yield was identified, indicating a trade-off between these two essential traits. This result highlighted an established dilemma for strawberry breeders and a need to uncouple the relationship, particularly under June-bearing, protected production systems comparable to this study. A large effect of quantitative trait nucleotide was associated with perceived acidity and pH whereas multiple loci were associated with firmness. Therefore, we recommended the implementation of both marker assisted selection (MAS) and genomic prediction to capture the observed variation respectively. Furthermore, we identified a large effect locus associated with a 10% increase in the number of class one fruit and a further 10 QTN which, when combined, are associated with a 27% increase in the number of marketable strawberries. Ultimately, our results suggested that the best method to improve strawberry yield is through selecting parental lines based upon the number of marketable fruits produced per plant. Not only were strawberry number metrics less influenced by environmental fluctuations, but they had a larger additive genetic component when compared with mass traits. As such, selecting using “number” traits should lead to faster genetic gain.

Field and greenhouse pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the potential to use intercropping as an alternative method to increase glucosinolates in Brassicas by manipulating nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) balance by intercropping with lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata). In both experiments, four combinations of N and S fertilization were used. In the field experiment no effect of intercropping on the total glucosinolate concentration was found as the growing lettuce was strongly inhibited by the presence of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italic). In contrast to this, in the pot experiment both total and individual glucosinolate concentrations in red leaf mustard (Brassica juncea L.) increased by intercropping. Fertilization treatments influenced glucosinolate concentrations in both experiments, and an interaction between N and S fertilization was noticed.