The distinctive morphology of "Fragaria multicipita" is due to phytoplasma

The rare plant, Fragaria multicipita Fern., was characterized by an unusual vegetative morphology that was long presumed to be suggestive of an ice front relict. While an additional species of Fragaria would be a potential source of genetic diversity for enhancing cultivated strawberry germplasm, evidence now indicates that such potential is not present in F. multicipita. Grafting of F. multicipita to F. chiloensis Duchesne resulted in transmission of a subgroup 16SrVI-B phytoplasma to, and the development of multicipital growth in,F. chiloensis. The results indicated that F. mulficipita is a phytoplasma-diseased aberrant growth form of F. virginiana Duchesne and is an unfounded taxon. It is apparent that this plant population offers no unique potential for increasing genetic diversity in cultivated strawberry germplasm, but the phytoplasma may be capable of infecting commercial strawberry.