Klaus Olbricht

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | HU Berlin · Life Science

Exploring a species paleohistory is crucial for understanding its responsiveness to climatic events, identifying drivers of adaptation, and developing effective biodiversity conservation strategies in the face of ongoing climate change. We analyzed 200 genomes of the perennial herb woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) from across Europe and inve...

Pigments, mainly anthocyanins and carotenoids, are important contributors to fruits' visual appearance and nutritional properties. In strawberry (Fragaria spp.), the genetic and molecular mechanisms regulating fruit carotenoid biosynthesis and its natural variation remain largely unexplored. In this study, we sought to identify genomic loci contrib...

The flowering time (FT), which determines when fruits or seeds can be harvested, is subject to phenotypic plasticity, i.e. the ability of a genotype to display different phenotypes in response to environmental variations. Here, we investigated how the environment affects the genetic architecture of FT in cultivated strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) a...

The flowering time, which determines when the fruits or seeds can be harvested, is known to be sensitive to plasticity, i.e. the ability of a genotype to display different phenotypes in response to environmental variations. In the context of climate change, strawberry breeding can take advantage of phenotypic plasticity to create high-performing va...

Prior to the world-wide dominance of F. ×ananassa in strawberry production, native species had been cultivated in European gardens for centuries. Especially the musk strawberry (F. moschata) had been highly appreciated due to its fruit size and extraordinary aroma. Detailed studies on the diversity of the species’ fruit aroma are lacking, although...

A comprehensive lexicon is a necessary communication tool between the panel leader and panelists to describe each sensory stimulus potentially evoked by a product. In the current scientific breeding and trading scenario, a multilingual sensory lexicon is necessary to ensure the consistency of sensory evaluations when tests are conducted across coun...

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) fruits are an excellent source of L-ascorbic acid (AsA), a powerful antioxidant for plants and humans. Identifying the genetic components underlying AsA accumulation is crucial for enhancing strawberry nutritional quality. Here, we unravel the genetic architecture of AsA accumulation using an F1 population derived f...

Fresh berries are a popular and important component of the human diet. The demand for high‐quality berries and sustainable production methods is increasing globally, challenging breeders to develop modern berry cultivars that fulfill all desired characteristics. Since 1994, research projects have characterized genetic resources, developed modern to...

In perennial fruit and berry crops of the Rosaceae family, flower initiation occurs in late summer or autumn after downregulation of a strong repressor TERMINAL FLOWER1 (TFL1), and flowering and fruiting takes place the following growing season. Rosaceous fruit trees typically form two types of axillary shoots, short flower-bearing shoots called sp...

In perennial fruit and berry crops of the Rosaceae family, flower initiation occurs in late summer or autumn after downregulation of a strong repressor TERMINAL FLOWER1 (TFL1) and flowering and fruiting takes place the following growing season. Rosaceous fruit trees typically form two types of axillary shoots, short flower-bearing shoots called spu...

Plant genomes consist, to a considerable extent, of non-coding repetitive DNA. Several studies showed that phylogenetic signals can be extracted from such repeatome data by using among-species dissimilarities from the RepeatExplorer2 pipeline as distance measures. Here, we advanced this approach by adjusting the read input for comparative clusterin...

Modern Pelargonium crispum hybrids (section Pelargonium) show low genetic and phenotypic variation due to the domestication effect. Species of the sections Cortusina, Ligularia, and Pelargonium are potential breeding partners at the diploid level (2n = 2x = 22). Five P. × crispum cultivars were used as seed parents and pollinated with one genotype...

The introgression of wild strawberry species into cultivars helps to avoid or counteract negative domestication effects. Fragaria chiloensis and F. virginiana, the parental species of the cultivated strawberry F. ×ananassa, are first choice for genetic resources due to their direct crossability on the octoploid level. Valuable traits, however, are...

Former and present cultivation of plant species impacts their distribution patterns and today's composition of floras. If native and feral populations are overlapping, the local status of species remains often questionable. The musk strawberry (Fragaria moschata) is such an example: It is native to Central Europe but has been extensively cultivated...

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a key hormone in non-climacteric Fragaria spp, regulating multiple physiological processes throughout fruit ripening. Its level increases during ripening, and it promotes fruit (receptacle) development. However, its metabolism in the fruit is largely unknown. We analyzed the levels of ABA and its catabolites at different deve...

The fruits of diploid and octoploid strawberry (Fragaria spp.) show substantial natural variation in color due to distinct anthocyanin accumulation and distribution patterns. Anthocyanin biosynthesis is controlled by a clade of R2R3 MYB transcription factors, among which MYB10 is the main activator in strawberry fruit. Here, we show that mutations...

Anthocyanins are the principal color-producing compounds synthesized in developing fruits of strawberry (Fragaria spp.). Substantial natural variation in color have been observed in fruits of diploid and octoploid accessions, resulting from distinct accumulation and distribution of anthocyanins in fruits. Anthocyanin biosynthesis is controlled by a...

During the past decade, Drosophila suzukii has established itself as a global invasive fruit pest, enabled by its ability to lay eggs into fresh, ripening fruit. In a previous study, we investigated the impact of different strawberry accessions on the development of D. suzukii eggs, in the search of natural resistance. We identified several accessi...

Lobelia is well established as ornamental plant since the 17th century. During the last decades, breeding mainly based on hybridization and resulted in an increasing number of cultivars. Polyploidisation in general is known for its essential contribution to an increased horticultural and ornamental value. In the assortments of Lobelia erinus diplo...

Bestände der Zimt-Erdbeere (Fragaria moschata) im Osten und Südosten Deutschlands gelten als autochthon, Vorkommen weiter westlich und nördlich als synanthrop. In der vorliegenden Arbeit haben wir das Geschlechterverhältnis von natürlichen und synanthropen Populationen untersucht. Natürliche Populationen weichen häufig von einer erwarteten Gleichve...

Modern Pelargonium crispum hybrids (section Pelargonium) show low genetic and phenotypic variation due to the domestication effect. Different species of the sections Cortusina, Ligularia and Pelargonium are potential breeding partners at the diploid level (2n=2x=22). Five P. ×crispum cultivars were used as seed parent and pollinated with one genoty...

Cleome, oder auch Spinnenblume, ist eine etablierte Zierpflanze für Beet- und Balkonbepflanzung. Sie erinnert durch ihre an langen Filamente hängenden Antheren an eine Spinne, was zu ihrer deutschen Namensgebung beigetragen hat. Seit 2007 wird sie der Gattung TarenayaRafinesque zugeordnet. Mit ihren zahlreichen Blüten in Weiß über Rosa bis hin zu P...

Pelargonium acetosum L'Hér. is a wild species from South Africa with decorative bluish foliage. Only few reports describe crossings between P. acetosum and P. peltatum L'Hér. (or P. ×peltatum). Therefore, information about hybridization barriers is limited. In this study, two different genotypes of Pelargonium acetosum (AC1 and AC2) were crossed wi...

Schon bevor die europäische Kulturerdbeere vor etwa 260 Jahren aus der spontanen Hybridisierung zweier amerikanischer Arten, der Chile- und der Scharlacherdbeere hervorgegangen ist, wurden die im europäischen Raum verbreiteten Walderdbeeren, Moschuserdbeeren und Hügelerdbeeren gesammelt, selektiert und kultiviert. Auch für das Dresdner-Radebeuler E...

Birch pollen allergic patients show cross-reactivity to vegetables and fruits, including strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa). The objective of this study was to quantify the level of the Fra a 1 protein, a Bet v 1-homologous protein in strawberry fruits by a newly developed ELISA, and determine the effect of genotype, cultivation and food processing...

The strawberry, with its unique aroma, is one of the most popular fruits worldwide. The demand for specific knowledge of metabolism in strawberries is increasing. This knowledge is applicable for genetic studies, plant breeding, resistance research, nutritional science, and the processing industry. The molecular basis of strawberry aroma has been s...

A recall campaign for commercial, orange flowering petunia varieties in spring 2017 caused economic losses worldwide. The orange varieties were identified as undeclared genetically engineered (GE)-plants, harboring a maize dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR, A1), which was used in former scientific transgenic breeding attempts to enable formation of...

The strawberry fruit Fra a 1-proteins are homologues of the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 and have essential biological functions in pigment formation during fruit ripening. Patients affected by allergy against birch pollen tolerated fruits of a naturally occurring white-fruited F. × ananassa genotype, which showed reduced levels of Fra a 1 p...

Fifteen species and eight cultivars of the section Pelargonium (DC.) Harv., two species of the section Ligularia (Sweet) Harv. and three species of the section Cortusina (DC.) Harv. were tested for genetic distance to predict successful combinations of interspecific crossings. 156 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-bands and 485 double prime...

Drosophila suzukii is threatening soft fruit production worldwide due to the females’ ability to pierce through the intact skin of ripe fruits and lay eggs inside. Larval consumption and the associated microbial infection cause rapid fruit degradation, thus drastic yield and economic loss. Cultivars that limit the proliferation of flies may be idea...

Until today, there is no valid definition of the ideal flavor pattern in strawberry. Despite numerous investigations of the metabolic composition of strawberries, the description of the relationship between flavor pattern and consumer acceptance is inconsistent. The aim of the present study was to correlate overall liking (acceptance), the intensit...

Pelargonium crispum hybrids (section Pelargonium) are attractive ornamental plants with a long breeding history. Due to the domestication effect a low level of genetic and phenotypic variation is shown in seedling populations after cross-breeding with available cultivars. The genus Pelargonium offers with over 250 wild species in 16 sections a larg...

A new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium plant named ‘Kuegrarolav’, characterized by its relatively compact and mounding plant habit; short production time; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; red purple-colored flowers with darker red purple-colored splotches on the upper petals; no cooling treatment required for flower initiation an...

Blue Angelonia × angustifolia flowers can show spontaneous mutations resulting in white/blue and white flower colourations. In such a white line, a loss of dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) activity was observed whereas chalcone synthase and flavanone 3-hydroxylase activity remained unchanged. Thus, cloning and characterization of a DFR of Angeloni...

For the first time, the genus of Fragaria was investigated by electron microscopy with regard to epicuticular wax structures and trichome formation on adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces. In addition, cross-sections and volatile patterns of leaves of several genotypes were analyzed. Distinct differences of epicuticular wax structures among the specie...

In 2008, Hansabred GmbH & Co. KG was founded as a European strawberry breeding and research company and has four widely known European companies as shareholders: Kraege Beerenpflanzen (Germany), Vissers (The Netherlands), R.W. Walpole Strawberry Plants Ltd. (UK) and Plantas de Navarra, S.A. (Spain). 250 years of strawberry breeding have led to nume...

"Balcony Gardens" are a modern trend in urban horticulture. The best strawberry types to use are everbearing and day-neutral cultivars. In this contribution, we present double white and pink flowering breeding clones. Mutations of homeotic genes are responsible for a double flowering F1-hybrid after introgression of Fragaria virginiana with a F. ×a...

Günter Staudt (1926-2008) began his studies in the genus Fragaria in 1946 when he was introduced to the Berlin Fragaria collection of Elisabeth Schiemann. Since then he developed a taxonomical system of the genus. He classified 24 species of the genus Fragaria. Since 2009, the herbarium of 1705 sheets was digitized and a first classification was do...

A new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium plant named ‘Kuegrapilav’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; short production time; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; light purple-colored flowers with purple-colored central splotches on the upper petals; and good container and garden performance.

In breeding programs wild strawberry species are used increasingly to enhance the genetic diversity and to implement higher sensory quality. Next to Fragaria moschata L. and F. viridis Weston wild collections cultivars of Fragaria vesca L. were the standards for strawberry taste in Europe before the development of Fragaria × ananassa Duch. around 2...

A new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium plant named ‘Kuegrapipink’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit; pinching is not required; freely flowering habit; red purple-colored flowers with light red purple-colored margins; no requirement for cooling treatment for flower initiation and development; and good...

A new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium plant named ‘Kuegrarow’, characterized by its upright and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit; pinching is not required; freely flowering habit; large light pink and red purple bi-colored flowers; no requirement for cooling treatment for flower initiation and development; and good container and ga...

A new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium plant named ‘Kuegrapiso’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit; pinching is not required; freely flowering habit; light red purple-colored flowers; no requirement for cooling treatment for flower initiation and development; and good container and garden performance.

Fragaria vesca is the most distributed wild species in the genus Fragaria. Due to this biogeography, a high diversity is to expect. During two harvest seasons, sixteen accessions from different locations from the most eastern habitat at Lake Baikal in Siberia, from Middle and Southern Europe and Northern Europe with Scandinavia and Iceland were inv...

A new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium plant named ‘Kuegrapidue’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit; pinching is not required; freely flowering habit; light purple and red purple bi-colored flowers; no requirement for cooling treatment for flower initiation and development; and good container and gard...

Fragaria virginiana Miller and Fragaria chiloensis (L.) Miller are the progenitors of Fragaria × ananassa Duch. Nowadays, innovative strawberry breeding programmes focus on back-crossing strawberry cultivars with their wild relatives. The introgression of accessions of wild species is valuable for cultivar improvement because funnel effects of arom...

Tunnel effects in 250 years of strawberry breeding history resulted in high performance cultivars with reduction in quality traits connected with flavour and resistances. Genetic resources for important traits are found in wild species such as Fragaria vesca. Mutation breeding of F. vesca up to an octoploid chromosome set is necessary for cross-bre...

Beside today’s most important Pelargonium cultivars in the groups of Zonal and Ivy Pelargoniums, Regal Pelargoniums (P. ×domesticum L.H. Bailey) and Pelargonium crispum hybrids are attractive ornamental plants with long breeding histories, too. Here, the pedigrees trace back to crosses with only a few species accessions. Despite numerous cultivars,...

Funnel effects in breeding programmes of Pelargonium zonale hybrids are obvious after more than 200 years of breeding history although several species are expected to be ancestors of this most important bedding plant. Introgression of wild species is valuable for widening the gene pool and to increase diversity in plant characteristics. Pelargonium...

Strawberry cultivars in current commercial use have a very narrow genetic base and reduced morphological and genetic diversity that puts them at risk from disease and climate change. Germplasm collections hold examples of the agricultural biodiversity of small berries where they are conserved, characterized and made available to breeders to improve...

Lobelia erinus hybrids are important bedding plants worldwide. Despite their significance, information about their breeding history is scarce. An interspecific background can be assumed, however, only a few reports about interspecific hybridisation of Lobelia erinus hybrids are available. So far, Lobelia plants up to the hexaploid level have been k...

Volatile metabolites are a basis for sensory and resistance traits of Fragaria × ananassa . Stability of expression is important for the selection of cultivars. For the first time, the stability of volatiles in a strawberry population after cross-combination of two distinct cultivars ('Mieze Schindler' × 'Elsanta') has been investigated. In this wo...