ADAPTIVE ZONES AND ANCESTRY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NORTH-AMERICAN STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS

The most popular strawberry cultivars grown in North America are conta ined in 7 cluster based on coefficients of relationship. They can be a ssorted into six major climatic/geographical regions: 1) California, 2 ) Florida, 3) Pacific Northwest, 4) Southern U.S., 5) Lower Mid-wester n and Eastern U.S, and 6) Eastern Canada and Upper Mid-western U.S. Th ere are key horticultural traits associated with the founding clones o f each cluster group, but in many instances cultivars are grown areas quite distant from the origin of their ancestors. This suggests that g ermplasm from very broad geographical/climatic zones can be successful ly incorporated in regional breeding programs.