Strawberry

Strawberries are bright red and sweet.

They belong to the rose family. Many people grow them in gardens.

These plants come from two different kinds. One came from North America. The other came from Chile. Long ago, gardeners mixed them together. This helped the plants grow more fruit.

Each tiny dot on the outside is a fruit. These dots have a seed inside. The red part is not a berry. It is a part of the plant that grew big.

People eat them in many ways. You can eat them fresh. You can also use them in jam or ice cream. Some people even use the smell in perfumes.

Strawberries are very popular all over the world. Many lands grow them every year. They are a tasty treat for many.

Strawberries are bright, red, and sweet.

They belong to the rose family. People grow them in gardens all over the world. In 2023, the world grew over ten million tons of them. China grew the most.

These plants are a hybrid. A hybrid is a plant made by mixing two different kinds. Long ago, gardeners in France mixed two types of plants. One type came from North America. The other came from Chile. This mix helped the plants make much more fruit.

A strawberry is not actually a berry. It is an aggregate accessory fruit. This means the red, juicy part comes from a part of the plant called the receptacle. The tiny dots on the outside are the real fruits. We call these small fruits achenes. Each achene has a tiny seed inside it.

Many people love the smell of strawberries. This scent comes from special parts called esters and furans. You can eat them fresh or in jam. Some companies even use the smell for perfumes.

Strawberries are bright red, juicy, and sweet fruits.

They belong to the rose family, known as Rosaceae. People grow these plants in gardens all over the world. In 2023, the world produced more than ten million tons of strawberries. China led the world in production with 40% of the total. The United States was the second largest producer.

Botanically, a strawberry is not a true berry. It is called an aggregate accessory fruit. This means the fleshy red part comes from the receptacle. The receptacle is the base of the flower. The tiny dots on the outside are the real fruits. These are called achenes, which are small fruits with a seed inside.

The garden strawberry is a hybrid plant. This means it was made by crossing two different species. In the 1750s, gardeners in Brittany, France, created this mix. They used a plant from North America called F. virginiana. They also used a plant from Chile called F. chiloensis. Amédée-François Frézier brought the Chilean plant to Europe in 1714.

Strawberries have a very famous smell and taste. This comes from many special compounds in the fruit. Some of these are called esters, terpenes, and furans. These chemicals give the fruit its sweet and fruity aroma. Many companies use these scents in perfumes and cosmetics. People also use strawberry flavors in foods like ice cream and chocolate.

Humans have enjoyed strawberries for a very long time. The Roman poet Virgil wrote about them in his poems. In art, strawberries appear in many famous paintings. For example, Hieronymus Bosch included them in his work called The Garden of Earthly Delights. In the past, people used them to represent many different ideas. Today, they are a popular treat at events like the Wimbledon tennis tournament.

The garden strawberry, known scientifically as *Fragaria × ananassa*, is a widely cultivated hybrid plant. It belongs to the Rosaceae family, which is the rose family. People grow these plants globally for their sweet, juicy, and aromatic red fruit.

Because of their popularity, they are used in many foods. These include jams, ice creams, and chocolates. Even artificial strawberry flavors are common in commercial products. In 2023, global production exceeded ten million tons. China led this production, accounting for 40% of the total. The United States was the second largest producer.

Botanically, the strawberry is not a true berry. Instead, it is classified as an aggregate accessory fruit. This means the fleshy, edible part comes from the receptacle, which is the base of the flower.

The tiny structures on the outside are actually the real fruits. These are called achenes. Each achene is a small botanical fruit that contains a single seed inside. While the achenes make up only about 1% of the fruit's fresh weight, they contribute 11% of its total polyphenols.

The modern garden strawberry is a hybrid created from two different species. In the 1750s, gardeners in Brittany, France, developed this plant. They crossed *F. virginiana* from North America with *F. chiloensis* from Chile. Amédée-François Frézier had originally brought the Chilean species to Europe in 1714.

At first, the Chilean plants grew well but produced no fruit. This happened because they bore only female flowers. French gardeners solved this by planting the wild woodland strawberry, *F. vesca*, nearby to provide pollen. This cross-pollination allowed the plants to produce abundant fruit.

Genetically, strawberries are quite complex. Both parent species and the modern hybrid are octoploid. This means they possess eight sets of chromosomes, or 8N.

Scientists published the full genome sequence of the garden strawberry in 2019. During the Green Revolution of the 1950s, agronomists used selective breeding to increase diversity. They focused on creating perpetual flowering hybrids. These plants are not sensitive to changes in photoperiod, which is the amount of light in a day. This advancement allowed for higher yields and expanded production in places like California.

The flavor and aroma of a strawberry come from many chemical compounds. These include esters, terpenes, and furans.

There are about 360 volatile compounds in the fruit, and 31 of them are strongly linked to its desirable taste. For example, the compound furaneol is a major contributor to its fragrance. In the United States, breeders specifically look for methyl anthranilate and gamma-decalactone. These compounds provide a "sweet and fruity" aroma. The bright red color is caused by pigments called anthocyanins. The main pigment is pelargonidin-3-glucoside, though cyanidin-3-glucoside is also present in smaller amounts.

Cultivation methods vary depending on the region and climate. Some farmers use annual plasticulture, where raised beds are covered in plastic to stop weeds and erosion. Others use a perennial system of matted rows or mounds. Some studies show that growing plants in compost socks can increase levels of fructose, glucose, and various acids. Strawberries face many challenges from pests and diseases. Over 200 species of arthropods, such as aphids and mites, attack the plants. Aphids can even carry the strawberry mild yellow-edge virus. Fungal diseases like gray mold and powdery mildew also affect the fruit and leaves. To protect crops, scientists study how plants metabolize certain volatiles to fight off mold.

Strawberries have a long history in human culture and art. The Roman poet Virgil wrote about them, mentioning a snake lurking in the grass beneath the fruit. This imagery was later used by writers like Shakespeare. In art, strawberries appear in famous works like Hieronymus Bosch's *The Garden of Earthly Delights*. Historically, they symbolized many things, such as religious blessings or the fleeting nature of joy. By the late 20th century, the symbol's meaning shifted toward female sexuality. Today, they remain a culinary staple, famous in desserts like pavlova and strawberry shortcake.