Molecular biology and evolutionJan 28, 2021

The mixed ancestry and domestication history of cultivated strawberry

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Updated Apr 4, 2026

Abstract

98% of common alleles and 73% of total alleles were shared between wild and domesticated strawberry populations.

Genomic history reveals significant increases in genetic variation among interspecific hybrids compared to domesticated strawberries.
Selective sweeps occurred in both early and modern phases of domestication, with 59-76% of affected genes originating from less dominant ancestral subgenomes.
Contrary to expectations, cultivated strawberries have substantial genetic diversity, comparable to that of their wild ancestors.
A total of 41.8 million unique DNA variants were identified between wild and domesticated strawberry individuals.
Nucleotide diversity estimates were similar across the wild and domesticated species, yet modern cultivated strawberries exhibited significantly reduced genetic variation.

Simplified

Cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) is one of our youngest domesticates, originating in early eighteenth-century Europe from spontaneous hybrids between wild allo-octoploid species (Fragaria chiloensis and Fragaria virginiana). The improvement of horticultural traits by 300 years of breeding has enabled the global expansion of strawberry production. Here, we describe the genomic history of strawberry domestication from the earliest hybrids to modern cultivars. We observed a significant increase in among interspecific hybrids and a decrease in heterozygosity among domesticated descendants of those hybrids. Selective sweeps were found across the genome in early and modern phases of domestication-59-76% of the selectively swept genes originated in the three less dominant ancestral subgenomes. Contrary to the tenet that genetic diversity is limited in cultivated strawberry, we found that the octoploid species harbor massive allelic diversity and that F. × ananassa harbors as much allelic diversity as either wild founder. We identified 41.8 M subgenome-specific DNA variants among resequenced wild and domesticated individuals. Strikingly, 98% of common alleles and 73% of total alleles were shared between wild and domesticated populations. Moreover, genome-wide estimates of nucleotide diversity were virtually identical in F. chiloensis,F. virginiana, and F. × ananassa (π = 0.0059-0.0060). We found, however, that nucleotide diversity and heterozygosity were significantly lower in modern F. × ananassa populations that have experienced significant genetic gains and have produced numerous agriculturally important cultivars.

Key numbers

98%

Allele Sharing

Percentage of common alleles shared between wild and domesticated populations.

0.0059

Nucleotide Diversity

Estimated nucleotide diversity (π) in wild and domesticated populations.

4,064

Selective Sweeps Identified

Number of selectively swept loci in the early phase of domestication.

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The mixed ancestry and domestication history of cultivated strawberry

Abstract

Key numbers

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