WILD AND CULTIVATED STRAWBERRIES CAN TOLERATE OR RESIST ROOT-LESION NEMATODE

Intraspecific crossing of 'Guardian' and 'Misway' cultivated strawberr y (Fragaria xananassa Duch.) produced a family of genotypes, some of w hich suppressed root-lesion nematode [Pratylenchus penetrans (Cobb)] p opulation counts and produced large berries and high yield. Unlike 'Mi dway', 'Guardian' also suppressed P. penetrans. Among several beach st rawberry [Fragaria chiloensis (L.) Duch.] and woodland strawberry (Fra garia virginiana Duch.) genotypes, variation was found in resistance a nd tolerance to root-lesion nematodes. Three F. chiloensis genotypes s howed tolerance, and at least two genotypes may be somewhat resistant. Three F. virginiana genotypes also were tolerant, and three were resi stant. Also, one ('Little Cataraqui 4') combined root growth vigor wit h nematode resistance. We concluded that exploitable genetic diversity in vigor and reaction to root-lesion nematodes exists in wild Fragari a and in F. xananassa.