**1.1 Genetic resources of** *Fragaria*

Genus *Fragaria* includes 20 species (**Table 1**) distributed in the Northern temperate and Holarctic zones [7, 8]. In *Fragaria*, four specific fertility classes are primarily associated with their ploidy level or chromosome number. Most widely distributed species *F. vesca* is diploid in nature (2n =14) and the most cultivated


#### **Table 1.**

*Species of Fragaria, ploidy and global distribution.*

species is *F. × ananassa* (2n = 56) is octoploid in nature. Diploid strawberries can be differentiated by their foliage, flower and fruits, inflorescence structure and plant habit. The *F. vesca* genome size was estimated at 197 Mb [9] and 206 Mb [10] and of *F*. *ananassa* 698 Mb [11]. Out of 20 species listed in **Table 1**, three species of *Fragaria* occur wild in the Himalayas in India [12–14]. These are: *1. F. nilgerrensis* Schecht. (Nilgiri strawberry): Habitat: A creeping herb found in Nilgiris and higher hills of north-eastern India. Uses: The fruit is pinkish, sub-acidic and juicy; *2. F*. *nubicola* Lindl. (Alpine Strawberry): Habitat: A herb distributed in the temperate Himalayas. Uses: Fruits are edible; and *3. F*. *vesca* L. (perpetual strawberry): Habitat: A herb found in the higher altitudes of temperate Himalayas. Uses: The red delicious fruits are edible.
