Euphytica 56: 67-74, 1991.

~) 1991KluwerAcademic Publishers. Printedin the Netherlands.

Factors influencing fruit size in the strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.)

J.A. Hortyfiski, J. Zebrowska, J. Gawrofiski & T. Hulewicz

Genetics and Horticultural Plant Breeding, Faculty of Horticulture, Agricultural University, Lublin, Poland

Received 4 April 1991;accepted2 August1991

Key words: Fruit size, correlation coefficient, Fragaria ananassa, large-fruited clones, selection, yield

Summary

Fruit size is one of the most important characteristics of highly productive strawberry cultivars. The aim of
the experiments was to establish the factors responsible for the expression of this trait. The total yield of large
fruits correlates closely with the total yield of all fruits and depends mainly on the mean fruit weight of all
fruits. The position of fruits on the inflorescence influences the decline of fruit size to a larger extent in
small-fruited clones than in the large-fruited ones. The size of the fruit is controlled by the dimension of the
receptacle and number of achenes. The stimulating effects of achenes are quite different in various genotypes
and the fruit weight per achene declines with the inferior blossom position. The large-fruited clones have
bigger leaves, a larger photosynthetic area, and thicker petioles and flower stalks. Their cells are larger,
which is common for the giant genotypes. The results suggest that there exists a possibility for indirect
selection of fruit size on the basis of some additional parameters, which can be useful particularily in the years
of unsuitable weather conditions.

Introduction al. (1968) r = 0.22, by Lacey (1973) r = 0.31 and by

One of the most important characteristics of mod-
ern strawberry cultivars is fruit size, which is esti-
mated in the course of selection on the basis of the
single fruit weight. Large-fruited varieties are eas-
ier to harvest and produce more attractive fruits
than small-fruited plants. Their area of cultivation
is therefore increasing, and replacing small-fruited
cultivars.
There are many publications considering the re-
lations between fruit size and yield. The majority of
authors have found that the most decisive factor
influencing the yield is the number of fruits and
have treated fruit size as a secondary factor. How-
ever, this second characteristic is more stable than
the number of fruits. The phenotypical correlation
of the single fruit size with the yield estimated by
Hondelmann (1976) was r = 0.31, by Hansche et
Hortyfiski, Flis and Hulewicz (1976) r = 0.40. The
genotypical correlation coefficient was found to be
much higher as stated by Hansche r = 0.65.
The size of fruits is inherited quantitatively and
shows higher values of heritability than both the
number of fruits per plant and the total yield. The
coefficient of heritability found by Hortyfiski
(1987) for the fruit weight was 0.60 sensu lato and
0.22 sensu stricto.
Considerable improvement of fruit weight has
been obtained by many breeders. The following
cultivars are known as being large-fruited: Tioga,
Senga Tigaiga, Gorella, Guardian, Vesper, Gil-
bert, Sequoia, Titan, Tamella, Holiday, Raritan,
Scarlet, Dukat.
68

Results and discussion fruited cultivars. On the contrary, our results sug-
gest that the clones producing large fruits show a
The influence of fruit weight on the yield of large lower degree of decline in size and a higher per-
fruits. centage of big fruits in the total yield. This decline
is genetically conditioned and therefore it is pos-
The evaluation of clones according to their produc- sible to select genotypes not only with large fruits
tion of large fruits is based on the analysis of single but also with a high percentage of these fruits in the
fruit weight and the percentage of large fruits in the total yield. Only such clones represent a high pro-
total yield. 1 In the first year of harvest the yield of ductive value.
large fruits correlates significantly with the total Many factors of physiological and genetic nature
yield (r-- 0.67**) and with the mean fruit weight are responsible for fruit size in the strawberry. The
(Table 1). The latter parameter also correlates pos- most important factor is the position of the fruit on
itively with the weight of large fruits (r -- 0.58**) the inflorescence, although the grade of the pro-
and with their percentage of the total yield (r-- gressive decline in fruit size on successive positions
0.40**). In the second year of harvest the relation- on the fruit cluster is different in various cultivars.
ships are quite the same with the small exception of The other important factor influencing the fruit
a low positive correlation between the yield of large size is the number of achenes. Many other charac-
fruits and the mean weight of large fruits (0.22*). teristics also affect the fruit weight, i.e. the number
Therefore, it may be stated that the yield of large of inflorescences, the dimension of the receptacle,
fruits correlates strongly with the total yield and the thickness of flower stalks and petioles and the
depends more on the mean fruit weight of all fruits dimensions of leaf blades and other vegetative
than on the mean weight of large fruits. The beha- traits.
viour of clones regarding their yield of large fruits External factors such as the amount of rainfall
varies, as can be seen in Table 2. In spite of a very during the growth of fruits, air and soil humidity,
high mean weight of large fruits, the corresponding and temperature are of predominant significance
yield of large fruits is in some genotypes quite low on the fruit size.
(clones 1884, 1984, 4184). The widespread cultivar In order to find characteristics which could be
Senga Sengana belongs to this category showing useful in the breeding of large-fruited cultivars,
low production of large fruits (45.9% in the first some generative and vegetative traits of the plants
year of harvest). were analysed, and the relationship with the weight
Janick & Moore (1975) as well Janick & Eggert of single fruits was estimated. Several breeding
(1968) found that the decline in fruit size was simi- clones and the cultivar Senga Sengana were used as
lar in all cultivars under study; Moore et al. (1970) experimental material.
stated that the decline in size was greater in large-

Table 1. C o r r e l a t i o n coefficients b e t w e e n t o t a l yield a n d y i e l d o f l a r g e fruits in s t r a w b e r r i e s ( e v a l u a t e d o n 182 clones)

1 2 3 4

1. T o t a l yield p e r p l a n t - 0.78** 0.03 ~s 0.04 ns

2. Y i e l d of l a r g e fruits 0.67** - 0.43** 0.22*
3. M e a n w e i g h t o f fruit - 0.07 n~ 0.40** - 0.63**
4. M e a n w e i g h t o f l a r g e fruits - 0.13 ~ 0.08 ~ 0.58"* -

1st y e a r of h a r v e s t (1988) o n the left

2 nd y e a r of h a r v e s t (1989) o n the r i g h t
* significant at P = 0.05. ** significant at P = 0.01. ns = n o t significant.

i F r u i t s of 10 g o r m o r e d e f i n e d as large.
 69

Table 2. Yield and weight of single fruit of strawberry in the 1st and 2nd year of harvest (1989 and 1990)

Number of Total yield per plant Yield of large fruits Yield of large fruits in Weight of single fruit Weight of large fruits
clone in g in g percent of total yield in g in g

1989 1990 1989 1990 1989 1990 1989 1990 1989 1990

1784 83 a 399 cde 36 a 348 d 43.1 87.1 8.4 ab 14.1 d 17.6 bcd 17.8 c
1884 111 abc 148 a 53 b 66 b 53.4 44.7 9.4 bc 10.2 bc 15.9 abc 12.0 a
1984 104 ab 287 abc 56 bc 229 c 20.2 79.9 10.4 c 10.5 c 17.0 bcd 15.4 bc
4984 208 de 478 ef 42 ab 298 cd 54.3 62.5 6.5 a 7.6 ab 14.1 a 13.9 ab
584 128 abc 198 ab 70 cd 64 a 74.1 32.5 9.6 bc 6.8 a 16.5 abc 12.0 a
4184 160 bcd 404 cde 118 e 360 d 47.8 89.2 13.4 d 13.0 cd 17,9 cd 15.8 bc
2584 158 bcd 361 cde 81 d 285 cd 51.3 79.1 9.6 bc 12.2 cd 16.6 abc 16.1 bc
2784 263 e 504 ef 142 f 309 cd 53.9 61.4 9.4 bc 10.5 c 14.9 ab 12.9 a
4384 235 e 574 f 179 g 512 e 76.3 89.1 14.3 d 18.2 e 20.7 e 26.2 d
4484 159 bcd 297 bcd 123 e 270 cd 77.3 90.8 14.6 d 14,1 d 19.6 de 16.4 c
Senga Sengana 166 cd 443 def 76 d 314 cd 45.9 70.9 8.1 ab 11.4 cd 15.6 abc 15.6 c

LSD 0.05 60 146 16 99 - - 1.9 2.8 2.7 2.4

Relationships of fruit weight and generative traits
The experiments were carried out in 1982: the first
one on 8 breeding clones and on a standard cultivar
Senga Sengana, which is the most cultivated variety
in Poland. In the second experiment, 15 breeding
clones and Senga Sengana were used. In the first
experiment the weight of fruits was evaluated at the
primary, secondary and tertiary positions in the
fruit cluster (Table 3). The largest fruits were pro-
duced by the clones 4000, B-302 and 425/9 at both
the first and second positions. The decline of fruit
weight at the third position was the smallest in
these three clones, showing that in large-fruited
genotypes the drop of fruit size is not as consid-
erable as in small-fruited ones. When expressed in
percentage decline from fruits at the first position,
the clones 393/3 and 441/2 showed a larger decline

Table 3. Single fruit weight and the diameter of receptacle at different positions on the inflorescence

Clones (A) Single fruit weight in g Mean fruit Fruit weight in percentage of 1-st Diameter of the XA
weight in g position fruit receptacle in mm
Positions (B)
Positions (B) Positions (B)
1-st 2-nd 3-rd Xa 2-nd 3-rd 1-st 2-nd 3-rd

1. Felina 13.37 6.45 3,55 7,79 48.20 35.50 5.36 4.74 4.14 4.75
2. 427/5 11.95 6.25 3.47 7.22 52.30 29.00 5.96 4.82 3.94 4.90
3. 4000 18.95 9.02 5.90 11.30 47.50 31.10 6.70 5.98 4.64 5.77
4. B-302 17.87 8.40 4.20 10.15 47.00 23.50 6.20 5.18 4.40 5.26
5. 425/9 18.77 9.22 5.06 11.02 49.10 27.00 6.88 5.56 4.88 5.77
6. 393/3 16.55 6.92 3.80 9,09 41.80 23.00 6.50 5.38 4.38 5.42
7. 441/2 13.22 5.64 3.46 7.43 42.40 26,20 6.20 5.02 4.38 5.20
8. 3040 14.10 6.96 2.92 7.99 49.40 20.70 5.90 4.92 4.30 5.04
9. Senga Sengana 10.72 5.34 4.13 6.73 49.40 38.50 6.16 5.16 4.38 5.23

xB 15.06 7.13 4.05 - - - 6.20 5.19 4.38 -

LSD005 for: XA= 1.05; XB= 0.85; XAB= 3.90.

70

of fruits at the second position and the clones 393/3
and 3040 - at the third position (Table 3).
Pelofske and Lawrence (1984) also studied the
relationship between primary and secondary fruits
(P/S) in the strawberry on 17 cultivars and found it
quite variable, showing quantitative inheritance
with positive and negative transgressions of the
studied characteristics.
The length and width of the fruits were equally
responsible for their weight, and the corresponding
correlation coefficients of the two traits were quite
similar (r = 0.84** $ Table 4). However, the coeffi-
cient of shape (length : width) indicated that some
large-fruited clones had more elongated fruits
(clones 4000, 427/5, B-302, 441/2). On the con-
trary, others showed more rounded fruits (Felina,
425/9,393/3, Senga Sengana). In all examples, the
shape of fruits at the third position was also more
rounded and had a lower coefficient of shape. The
clone 425/9 produced some fruits which were mal-
formed, and the clone 441/2 had fruits with a 'nar-
row neck'.
One of the most decisive factors controlling the
size of fruits in the strawberry is the dimension of
the receptacle. The correlation between these two
traits amounted to 0.83**. T i e largest receptacles
were found in the large-fruited clones 4000 and
425/9. However, the clone B-302 which belongs to
the same group, had a smaller receptacle, caused
by a lower number of pistils and developing
achenes in this genotype. On the average, the rela-
tionship between the diameter of the receptacle
and the number of achenes for the first position of
fruits was r = 0.64"*, for the second position r =
0.59** and for the third position r = 0.02. This
shows that the size of fruits situated at the top of the
fruit cluster is not controlled by the number of
achenes because they are, for the most part, empty.
The number of achenes was counted at the base
and the top of the fruit as well as on the whole fruit
(Table 5). At the base of the fruit, this number was
much lower than at the top. The large-fruited
clones (4000 and 425/9) had the highest numbers of
achenes at the top of the fruits, which often caused
the apical part of the fruits to be hard, and made the
fruits unattractive. The variability of this character-
istic was smaller at the base of the fruits than at the
top, but showed a similar tendency in analysed
clones. The total number of achenes on the fruit
gradually decreased from the first to the third posi-
tion, corresponding to the fruit size of the primary,
secondary and tertiary fruits. The large-fruited
clones 4000 and 425/9 showed the highest numbers
of total achenes. This is in accordance with the
statement of Janick & Eggert (1968) and of Moore
et al. (1970) who found that large-fruited clones
produced fruits with more achenes than small-fruit-
ed ones. A very high number of achenes was also

Table 4. Length and width of fruits

Clones (A) Length of fruits in cm ~A Width of fruits in cm XA Index of shape: length/width iA

Positions (B) Positions (B) Positions (B)

1-st 2-nd 3-rd 1-st 2-nd 3-rd 1-st 2-nd 3-rd

1. Felina 2.67 2.08 1.49 2.08 3.12 2.46 1.78 2.45 0.85 0.85 0.84 0.85
2. 427/5 2.89 2.21 1.83 2.31 2.98 2.38 1.94 2.43 0.97 0.97 0.94 0.96
3. 4000 3.53 2.61 1.94 2.69 3.46 2.61 2.03 2.70 1.02 1.00 0.95 0.99
4. B-302 3.22 2.44 1.81 2.49 3.37 2.45 1.98 2.60 0.95 0.99 0.91 0.92
5.425/9 3.09 2.34 1.64 2.36 3.64 2.50 2.13 2.75 0.85 0.93 0.77 0.85
6. 393/3 2.99 2.18 1.55 2.24 3.53 2.45 1.85 2.61 0.85 0.88 0.84 0.86
7. 441/2 3.00 2.25 1.54 2.26 3.11 2.16 1.72 2.33 0.96 1.04 0.90 0.97
8. 3040 3.11 2.54 1.48 2.37 3.21 2.51 1.67 2.46 0.97 1.01 0.83 0.94
9. Senga Sengana 2.49 1.96 1.44 1.96 2.85 2.18 1.86 2.29 0.88 0.90 0.77 0.85

£s 3.00 2.29 1.63 - 3.25 2.41 1.88 . . . . .

LSDo.o5 for: XA= 0.20; XB= 0.09; XAa = 0.39. LSDo.o5 for: £A = 0.22; XB= 0.10; iAa = 0.45.
 71

found on the smaller but very firm fruits of the
clone 393/3. The soft fruits of clones B-302 and
3040 developed the smallest number of achenes.
The fruit flesh per one achene evaluated in mg. was
the highest for the clone B-302 and then for the
clones 425/9 and 4000. The clone B-302 has soft
fruits and sparsely situated achenes, but their activ-
ity in producing growth hormones and the stimulat-
ing effect on the receptacle were the greatest.
These results indicate that the effect of developing
achenes on the growing fruits differs and depends
upon the genotype of the clone. The mean weight
of the fruit corresponding to one achene may well
illustrate this assumption (Table 5). Olsen et al.
(1985) also analysed two genotypes of strawberry
in relation to their weight and achene number.
They found that the number of achenes was re-
sponsible for the fruit weight. With the same num-
ber of achene on 1 square cm of fruit surface, the
clone OR-US-4356 produced smaller fruits than
the cultivar Benton. This is in accordance with our
observation, that the stimulating effect of achenes
is quite different in various genotypes.
The position of the fruit in the fruit cluster plays a
very important role in the effect of achenes on the
developing fruit flesh. It is much greater at the first
position and gradually diminishes at the second and
third positions. This may be caused by the competi-
tion of the developing fruits in higher parts of the
fruit cluster.
Similar results were obtained previously by
Moore et al. (1970), who found that the fruit weight
per achene declines with the inferior blossom posi-
tion.
The correlation coefficients were positive and
highly significant between the number of achenes
on a 1 square cm surface at the top and base of
fruits, and the fruit weight (r = 0.37** and 0.26*,
resp.). There was a similar correlation between the
number of achenes and the length and width of
fruits. However, the highest correlation was found
between the total number of achenes and the fruit
weight (r = 0.49, Table 6). The correlation coeffi-
cient previously analysed by Hulewicz and Hortyfi-
ski (1972) varied greatly and depended on the culti-
vars: for Senga Sengana it was r = 0.42** and for
Purpuratka r = 0.93**.
The firmness of the fruits analysed also showed a
very high positive correlation with the number of
achenes (r = 0.73**). This means that the clones
with a very high achene number produce fruits of
greater firmness, which can be explained by a more
dense dispersal of vascular bundles in the fruit
flesh. The number of bundles was higher in clones
4000, 425/9, 393/3 and 441/2 whose fruits showed
better firmness (Table 7). It was also found through

Table 5. Number of achenes and fruit flesh per achene on fruits from different positions

Clones (A) Number of achenes XA Number of achenes XA Total number of XA Flesh weight per ~A
at the top of fruits at the base of fruits achenes on fruits achene in mg

Positions (B) Positions (B) Positions (B) Positions (B)

1-st 2-nd 3-rd 1-st 2-nd 3-rd 1-st 2-nd 3-rd 1-st 2-nd 3-rd

1. Felina 15.8 14.7 14.2 14.9 10.4 10.8 10.7 10.6 214.0 141.4 111.2 155.5 62.5 45.6 31.9 50.1
2. 427/5 18.5 17.7 15.7 17.3 10.4 10.5 9.6 10.1 186.6 125.2 105.0 138.9 64.0 49.9 32.9 52.0
3.4000 26.3 23.1 20.4 23.2 11.8 12.2 10.4 11.5 263.2 149.6 112.4 175.4 71.8 60.3 52.1 64.4
4. B-302 14.6 14.7 11.5 13.6 9.3 9.5 7.5 8.7 171.0 126.4 120.6 139.3 104.5 66.4 34.8 72.8
5.425/9 23.5 17.5 12.4 17.8 1 2 . 3 10.6 8.4 10.4 256.8 142.0 98.6 165.8 73.1 64.9 50.7 66.0
6. 393/3 20.2 19.9 17.0 19.0 11.4 11.0 9.1 10.5 264.4 160.2 127.0 183.9 75.7 43.1 29.9 49.4
7. 441/2 22.4 16.5 14.8 17.9 12.5 9.3 7.9 9.9 251.4 121.2 76.2 149.6 52.6 46.3 34.7 49.7
8. 3040 16.0 15.3 14.1 1 5 . 1 10.4 11.2 8.8 10.1 198.8 134.8 72.0 135.2 70.9 51.6 40.6 59.1
9. SengaSengana 20.9 16.3 14.6 17.2 12.1 9.2 8.1 9.8 220.6 133.4 85.6 146.5 48.6 40.0 48.2 45.9

xB 19.8 17.3 15.0 - 11.5 10.4 8.9 - 225.3 137.1 101.0 . . . . .

LSD0.05 for: XA= 2.3; XB= 1.0; £AB----4.6. LSD005 for: £A = 1.2; XB= 0.5; XAB= 2.4. LSD005 for: XA= 4.7; XB= 20.3; XAB= ns.
72

Table 6. Correlations between fruit weight and other generative characteristics

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1. Single fruit weight

2. N u m b e r of fruits on flower inflorescences - 0.38"* -
3. Length of fruits 0.84** - 0.42** -
4. Width of fruits 0.84** - 0.40** 0.85** -
5. N u m b e r of achenes at the top of fruit 0.37** - 0.22 0.38** 0.33**
6. N u m b e r of achenes at the base of fruit 0.26* - 0.24 0.33** 0.30* 0.48** -
7. Firmness at the top of fruit 0.48** - 0.29* 0.49** 0.47** 0.50** 0.36** -
8. Firmness at the base of fruit 0.39** - 0.22 0.43** 0.41"* 0.38** 0.29* 0.66**
9. Total n u m b e r of achenes on the fruit 0.49** 0.11 0.37** 0.32* 0.73** 0.64** 0.73** 0.73**

* significant at P = 0.05. ** significant at P = 0.01.

cross-sections that the size of a fruit's core was a common occurrence for giant genotypes with
bigger in the clones of better firmness (Table 7). large cells. The large-leaved plants were more pro-
This connection should be studied more extensive- ductive (19.6%) and had larger fruits (10.2%) than
ly on a larger number of genotypes; if confirmed, it the small-leaved plants.
would be possible to use the size of the core as an The obtained results were confirmed by the anal-
index of fruit firmness in the selection work. ysis of phenotypical correlation (Table 9). The di-
mensions of leaves correlated positively with the
diameter of petioles (r = 0.679**) a n d - to a lesser
Relation of fruit weight to vegetative and anatomical degree - with the diameter (r = 0.194) and length
traits of plants (r = 0.271") of flowers stalks. They corresponded
negatively, however, with the number of stomata
The production of large fruits in the strawberry is (r = - 0.675** and - 0.468"*, Table 9).
the result of gigantism of the plants. This phenom- Fruit size showed a positive correlation with the
enon is controlled for the most part by the size of single leaf area (r = 0.288* and 0.516"*), with the
cells, which determines the dimensions and shape diameter and length of petioles (r = 0,537** and
of vegetative and generative organs of plants. The 0.514"*, resp.) as well as flower stalks (r = 0.452**
study of gigantism in the strawberry was conducted
on 6 large-leaved and 7 small-leaved breeding Table 7. Contribution of core and the n u m b e r of vascular bun-
clones. dles on the crossection of fruits
The two groups were compared in respect to
Clones Contribution N u m b e r of Firmness of
their vegetative and generative traits (Table 8). of core in vascular fruits in kPa*
The area of a single leaf blade from the large- percent bundles
leaved clones was nearly twice as large as that of the
small-leaved group (192%), though the number of 1. Felina 33.04 17.70 78.50
2. 427/5 25.45 16.50 79.40
leaves in the first group was smaller (87.7%).
3. 4000 39.63 18.70 94.10
Despite fewer leaves, the total photosynthetic 4. B-302 32.96 14.00 83.40
area of leaf blades was much larger in the large- 5.425/9 51.76 19.00 97.60
leaved clones (188.8%). The thickness of their peti- 6. 493/3 42.29 21.30 96.10
oles and flower stalks was greater, yet insignificant- 7. 441/2 31.81 21.00 88.80
8. 3040 30.50 12.00 70.60
ly higher. A similar relation was found for the
9. Senga Sengana 33.33 17.00 71.10
stomata which were longer and - to a lesser degree
-wider. On the contrary, the number of stomata in * Fruit firmness was m e a s u r e d as puncture force by 5 m m
a unit of leaf area was lower in large-leaved clones, diameter fiat rod.
Table 8. Vegetative characteristics of the large- and small-leaved clones

N u m b e r of A r e a of Total L e ngt h Diameter L e n g t h of D i a m e t e r N u m b e r of Le ngt h of W i d t h of Single N u m b e r of Y i e l d o f

leaves p er single ar e a of of of flower of flower s t o m a t a in s t o m a t a s t o m a t a (/~) fruit fruits fruits p er
plant leaf l eave s petioles petioles stalks (cm) stalks a unit of (/~) w eig h t p er p lan t p l a n t (g)
(dm 2) (dm 2) (cm) (mm) (mm) leaf area (g)

Large-leavedclones 42.2** 1.48"* 71.0"* 22.7 ns 3.81 "s 22.0 "s 3.04 "s 11.4'* 29.5** 22.3** 9.11"* 19.0"* 153.6"*

Small-leaved clones 48.1 0.77 37.6 21.0 3.25 20.3 2.94 15.8 26.1 19.5 7.55 17.2 128.4

Large-leaved clones in
percent of small-leaved
clones 87.7 192.2 188.8 108.1 117.2 108.1 103.4 72.0 113.0 114.5 120.5 110.2 119.6

** significant at P = 0.01; .s = not significant.

Table 9. Correlations b e t w e e n fruit weight and s ome vegetative and a n a t o m i c a l characteristics

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

1. N u m b e r of leaves
2. Single leaf ar ea - 0.242* - 0.448** - 0.468** 0.365** 0.516"*
3. D i a m e t e r of petioles - 0.413"* 0.679** - - 0.415"*
4. L e n g t h of petioles 0.325** 0.338** 0.336** - 0.368**
5. D i a m e t e r of flower stalks - 0.348"* 0.194 0.286** 0.013 -
6. L e n g t h of flower stalks - 0.009 0.271" 0.278** 0.367** 0.420** -
7. N u m b e r of s t o m a t a - 0.019 - 0.675"* - 0.405** - 0.257* - 0.160 - 0.249* - - 0.344** 0.374** - 0.552**
8. L e n g t h of s t o m a t a 0.175 0.072 0.042 0.159 0.048 0.175 - 0.098 - - 0.411"* 0.256**
9. W i d t h of s to m ata 0.069 0.016 - 0.044 0.255* - 0.142 - 0.020 - 0.003 - 0.014
10. Firmness of fruits 0.008 0.198 0.196 0.246* - 0.151 - 0.087 - 0.017 0.006 0.102

11. Single fruit weight - 0.605** 0.288* 0.537** 0.514"* 0.452** 0.318"* - 0.724 0.482** 0.098 - 0.401"*

1st e x p e r i m e n t on the left; 2 "d e x p e r i m e n t on the right; * significant at P = 0.05; ** significant at P = 0.01; ~ = not significant.

t..o
74
and 0.318"*, resp.). However, the total photosyn-
thetic area of leaves had the greatest influence on
the dimensions of the fruits, expressed by the cor-
relation coefficient r = 0.916"* (not included in
Table 9). A positive relationship was also found
between the fruit weight and the length of stomata
( r = 0.482"*), although it was negative with
the number of stomata ( r = -0.724"* and
- 0.552**). This clearly indicates that clones with
large cells produce larger fruits. In contrast with
the leaf dimensions, the number of leaves correlat-
ed negatively with the area of a single leaf (r =
- 0.242"), with the diameter of petioles and flower
stalks ( r = -0.413"* and -0.348"*, resp.) and
with the weight of a single fruit (r = - 0.605**).
In previous analyses (Hortyriski et al., 1976), it
was found that the height of plants and inflores-
cences correlated closely with fruit weight and
yield. As also seen in our present investigations,
the larger the leaf area, the bigger the generative
organs of the plants. The same was stated by Lacey
(1973): 'Plant size, however, correlates with both
fruit size and fruit number, though more strongly to
fruit size'.
Additionally, some interesting relationships
were found between the firmness and the weight of
the fruits (r = -0.401"*) as well as between the
firmness and the number of stomata (r = 0.374**)
and their dimensions (r = - 0.411"*). This means
that clones with small cells often produce firmer
fruits. On the contrary, the number of stomata and
the capping ability correlate negatively ( r =
-0.369"*), indicating that genotypes with larger
cells are characterized by better capping ability.
These results are in accordance with the conclu-
sions of Barritt (1979) who stated that 'a negative
phenotypic correlation appears to exist between
fruit firmness and ease of capping' explainable by
the different effect of cell size on both character-
istics.
The obtained results confirm the previous state-
ment that large-fruited clones show the effects of
gigantism which are expressed in larger cells, thick-
er and higher petioles and flower stalks, bigger
leaves, larger photosynthetic area and finally,
greater fruit weight. All these traits can be used as
indices in the selection work of large-fruited culti-
vars. In those years with unfavorable atmospheric
conditions and scarce rainfall when fruit develop-
ment is not normal, additional characteristics
which correlate with fruit weight should be consid-
ered during the selection.
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