Horticultural Science and Technology ISSN:1226-8763(Print) 2465-8588(Online) 원예과학기술지

This work assessed the percent germination according to seed storage duration and influence on F₁ hybrid progeny by individual plants of inbred lines, used as parents in crosses, in the F₁ hybrid strawberry cultivar ‘Seeberry’. Seed germination was the highest, at approximately 90%, when seeds were sown in the year of crossing. Percent germination dropped to 40-50% after 1-2 years of storage, with further substantial decreases in percent germination after 3, 4, and 5 years of storage. For stored seed, therefore, the optimal storage duration was about 2 years. However, germination of stored seed could be substantially improved, up to approximately 90% germination, with the application of a priming treatment such as MgCl₂. The degree of uniformity of F₁ hybrid progeny with advancement of selfing generation of cross parents showed no significant differences both in crosses between the S9 or S10 generation. However, when individual F₁ crosses of the S9 generation were considered, one of nine crosses exhibited reduced plant vigor and yield. Overall, for optimal germination, F₁ hybrid seed strawberry should be sown in the same year as crossing. Where storage is required, seeds should be sown within 2 years, preferably with a priming treatment to improve germination. Furthermore, vegetative propagation of each individual of inbred lines using crossing parents appears preferable to seed propagation for maintaining the purity of the F₁ hybrid cultivar.