Agamospermy in outbred crosses of Fragaria vesca L. (Rosaceae)

The seed progeny obtained in European wood strawberry Fragaria vesca L. (2n = 2x = 14) via outbred crosses proved to include matromorphic diploid plants, whose proportion varied from 10.0 to 21.0%. To allow their identification, the crosses were performed using recessive dihomozygotes (variety Alexandria) as a maternal form and dominant dihomozygotes as a paternal form. Generation of parthenogenetic plants in ourbred crosses with known genetic markers suggested pseudogamous agamospermy. The question is discussed as to whether seed development via agamospermy is possible in wild-growing F. vesca populations of Siberia. The capability of forming some seeds via agamospermy is considered to result from successful adaptation of the F. vesca reproductive system to stressful growth conditions.