Florida Medallion™ ‘FL 16.30-128’ strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa; hereafter referred to as Medallion; U.S. Patent PP33,451) was released from the University of Florida in 2020. By 2024 this cultivar occupied approximately 15% of acreage in central Florida. The unique characteristics of this cultivar, in particular its early yields and fruity flavor, point to the breeding strategy employed in its development. Medallion originated from a 2016 cross between two unreleased selections. Marker-assisted selection was applied to this cross using a PCR-based marker for the FaFAD1 gene controlling production of gamma-decalactone, a volatile imparting fruity flavor. Seedlings homozygous for the functional allele were retained. At the advanced selection stage, trials of Medallion were conducted at the research plots of the University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) in Wimauma, FL and fruit were harvested for sensory and chemical analyses over five seasons. The increased dosage of the FaFAD1 gene resulted in high production of gamma-decalactone. Trained sensory panels perceived improved sweetness and strawberry flavor intensity of Medallion to be above the current industry standard ‘Florida Brilliance’. Additional background and data will be presented illustrating the early yield of this variety and other characteristics making it suitable for the central Florida industry and suggesting future breeding strategies for improving strawberry flavor.
