The cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) is an allo-octoploid species, originating nearly 300 years ago from wild progenitors from the Americas. Since that time the strawberry has become the most widely cultivated fruit crop in the world, universally appealing due to its sensory qualities and health benefits. The recent publication of the first highquality chromosome-scale octoploid strawberry genome (cv. Camarosa) is enabling rapid advances in genetics, stimulating scientific debate and provoking new research questions. In this forward-looking review we propose avenues of research toward new biological insights and applications to agriculture. Among these are the origins of the genome, characterization of genetic variants, and big data approaches to breeding. Key areas of research in molecular biology will include the control of flowering, fruit development, fruit quality, and plant-pathogen interactions. In order to realize this potential as a global community, investments in genome resources must be continually augmented.Origin and organization of the octoploid strawberry genome

The PEBP family comprises proteins that function as key regulators of flowering time throughout the plant kingdom and they also regulate growth and plant architecture. Within the PEBP protein family, three subfamilies can be distinguished in angiosperms: MOTHER OF FT AND TFL1-like (MFT), FLOWERING LOCUS T-like (FT-like), and TERMINAL FLOWER1-like (TFL1-like). Taking advantage of the genome sequences available from K. fedtschenkoi and K. laxiflora, we performed computational analysis to identify the members of the PEBP gene family in these species. The analyses revealed the existence of 11 PEBP genes in K. fedtschenkoi and 18 in K. laxiflora, which are clustered in two clades: FT-like and TFL1-like. The PEBP genes had conserved gene structure and the proteins had highly conserved amino acid sequences in the positions crucial for the protein functions. The analysis of Ka/Ks ratio revealed that most recently duplicated genes are under positive selection. Despite being an economically important genus, the genetics underlying the regulation of flowering in Kalanchoë is poorly understood. The results of this study may provide a new insight into the molecular control of flowering that will allow further studies on flowering control in Kalanchoë.

A high yield of isolated protoplasts and efficient regeneration protocols are prerequisites for successful development of somatic hybrids. In the present study, protoplast isolation and regeneration were evaluated in 12 Kalanchoë accessions belonging to nine species. The highest protoplast yield was obtained from K. blossfeldiana 'Charming Red Meadow' with 10.78 ± 0.51 × 10 5 protoplasts per gram fresh weight. We observed significant differences of protoplast yield while there was no distinct difference in viability among the accessions. Seven accessions reached the microcolony stage and four developed microcalli in medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 0.5 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.5 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). Using five selected accessions we optimized the PGR (plant growth regulators) concentrations using combinations of NAA, BAP and 2,4-D. K. blossfeldiana cultivars 'Charming Red Meadow' and 'Paris' produced significantly different numbers of calli depending on the PGR concentrations. For plant regeneration, the medium was supplemented with 1 mg/l NAA and 2 mg/l BAP or 2 mg/l zeatin. Shoots were regenerated on medium supplemented with NAA and BAP for K. blossfeldiana 'Charming Red Meadow' and K. blossfeldiana 'Paris'. The plants successfully developed roots on the medium supplemented with IAA. The medium containing zeatin induced root formation directly from callus in K. blossfeldiana 'Charming Red Meadow'. Our findings have the potential to facilitate the use of Kalanchoë species in somatic hybridization breeding programs. Key MessageThe study revealed a strong genotype-dependent efficiency of colony and microcallus formation. Plants were regenerated from two Kalanchoë blossfeldiana cultivars on medium supplemented with NAA and BAP.