INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDIZATION FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF FRUIT FLAVOR FROM WILD FRAGARIA INTO COMMERCIAL STRAWBERRY

Selected cloned plants from several hundreds of partially or almost fully fertile hybrids obtained from crosses between F. × vescana and F. moschata, and [(Fragaria × ananassa × F. vesca semperflorens) × F. moschata] respectively, were evaluated in order to select those in which interesting combinations of characteristics from their parent species were stable expressed. Some of these hybrids showed an exceptionally high plant vigor, extended period of vegetation, an impressive yielding potential, and produced very uniform fruits in shape, up to 8 g in weight.