The garden strawberry (or simply strawberry) is a widely grown hybrid species of the genus Fragaria, collectively known as the strawberries, which are cultivated worldwide for their fruit. The fruit is widely appreciated for its characteristic aroma, bright red color, juicy texture, and sweetness. It is consumed in large quantities, either fresh or in such prepared foods as jam, juice, pies, ice cream, milkshakes, and chocolates. Artificial strawberry flavorings and aromas are also widely used in products such as candy, soap, lip gloss, perfume, and many others.
The garden strawberry was first bred in Brittany, France, in the 1750s via a cross of Fragaria virginiana from eastern North America and Fragaria chiloensis, which was brought from Chile by Amédée-François Frézier in 1714. Cultivars of Fragaria × ananassa have replaced, in commercial production, the woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca), which was the first strawberry species cultivated in the early 17th century.
The strawberry is not, from a botanical point of view, a berry. Technically, it is an aggregate accessory fruit, meaning that the fleshy part is derived not from the plant's ovaries but from the receptacle that holds the ovaries. Each apparent "seed" (achene) on the outside of the fruit is actually one of the ovaries of the flower, with a seed inside it.
In 2019, world production of strawberries was 9 million tonnes, led by China with 40% of the total.
Strawberry
Health benefits of Strawberry
Other common names of Fragaria X ananassa are Garden Strawberry, Large- Fruited Strawberry, Hybrid Strawberry, Pine Strawberry, Strawberries, Pineapple strawberry and Strawberry. It belongs to the genus Rosaceae which consists about 3,400 species that includes apples, berries, plums, peaches, cherries, the mountain ash and the hawthorn tree. It is a low herbaceous perennial plant which possesses compound leaves having three hairy and sawtooth edged leaflets. The white flowers grow on thin stalks in clusters. Additionally, seeds which are produced by these flowering plants are spread by stolons when they get older. Strawberry is an aggregate accessory fruit which means that fleshy part is not derived from ovaries of plant but from receptacle which holds ovaries. Apparent seeds found on outside of fruit are one of the ovaries of flower having seed inside it. The plant is sensitive to damage from frost.
The worldwide commercial production in 2010 was about 4.4 million metric tons which was harvested from 244000 hectares. Almost 10% was harvested in US but that supposed for above 25% of total (1.3 mmt). The strawberry was produced in California which produces about 88% of total of US which valued about $2.3 billion every year. Turkey, Egypt, Spain, Mexico and Korea are the other major producers. Garden strawberry was firstly bred in 1750 in Brittany, France through a cross of Fragarina virginiana from Eastern North America and Fragaria chiloensis brought by Amedee Francois Frezeir from Chile in 1714. In 17th century, woodland strawberry scientifically known as Fragaria vesca was the first species of strawberry to be cultivated.
History
In the late 18th century, the first garden strawberry was cultivated in France. The fruit strawberry was observed in reference to its medicinal use in ancient Roman literature. In 1300s, French started to take strawberry from forest to their gardens. From 1364 to 1380, Charles V, France’s king had 1200 strawberry plants in his royal garden. Western European monks in early 1400s used wild strawberry in their illuminated manuscripts. Strawberry was also found in Flemish, Italian, German art and English miniatures. The whole strawberry plant was useful for treating depressive illnesses.
In 1500s, references of cultivation of strawberry were common. It was used for medicinal purposes and botanists started to name different species. In mid 1500s, the demand for regular strawberry farming increased. In 1578, an instruction for growing as well as harvesting strawberries was showed up in writing. By the end of 1500s, three European species was noted: F.viridis, F.moschata and F.vesca. Garden strawberry was relocated from forests and the plants were propagated asexually by cutting off runners.
F. sylvestris semperflorens and F. sylvestris alba was the two subspecies of F. vesca identified. The introduction of F. virginiana to Europe from Eastern North America in 1600s gave rise to the modern strawberry. The new species spread gradually but was not acknowledge till the end of 18th century. In 1712, a French excursion travelled to Chile, it introduced the plant of strawberry with female flowers which resulted in common strawberry. In 1551, Mapuche and Huilliche Indians of Chile cultivated female species of strawberry when Spanish conquer the land. A European explorer in 1765 reported the cultivation of F.chiloensis which is a Chilean strawberry. The plant grew vigorously when firstly introduced to Europe but did not produced fruit. In 1766, it was discovered that female plant female plants could be pollinated by the plants which produced large fruit such as F. virginiana, F.moschata and F. ananassa. This is when the Europeans knewed that plants is able to produce only male or only female flowers. In Europe, when large fruit producing plants was cultivated, the Chilean strawberry slowly reduced in population except Brest where the Chilean strawberry thrived. F. ananassa cause the decline of Chilean strawberry.
Plant
It is an herbaceous perennial plant with short and woody stems, basal rosette and compound leaves having three coarsely toothed leaflets. Leaves are arranged spirally on soft, pubescent petioles, trifoliate and measures 2 to 10 cm long. Leaflets are obovate or rhombic, shortly petiolulate to sessile, dark green and subglabrous above and pale green or sparsely hairy below. The plants are indicated by stolons which are rooting runners that form new plantlets at tip and allow them for vegetative reproduction. Flowers are white and usually have five parts. Flowers are bisexual, 5 to 6 merous and 1.5-2 cm across. Fruit is a psuedocarp or false fruit in obovoid or ovoid shape and measures about 4.5 cm by 5.5 cm. Fruit consists of numerous ovaries having a single ovule and is crowned by persistent appressed sepals ripening red. Achenes are acutely ovoid which is sunken in swollen torus and measures about 1.25 mm by 1 to 1.25 mm.
Health Benefits of Strawberries
Strawberries provide 129% of daily value of Vitamin C which is known to counteract infections. It is also loaded with folate, manganese and potassium. Besides low content of fats and calories, it is a great source of anthocyanins, flavonols, ellagitannins, ellagic, phenolic acids and terpenoids. Additionally, it contains anti-aging, neurological disease fighting and anti-cancer properties. Strawberry promotes eye health, provide relief from high blood pressure, proper brain function, gout, arthritis and other cardiovascular health problems. Strawberries have high content of antioxidant and polyphenolic compounds which make it beneficial to improve immune health and prevent various types of cancer and also lower the signs of premature aging. Let us look about the health benefits in detail:
Treat diabetes
Diabetic nephropathy is a clinical syndrome which is identified by hypertension, albuminuria and progressive renal insufficiency. The study was conducted to investigate effect of leaf extract of strawberry on diabetic nephropathy in rats. The streptozotocin diabetic rats were treated orally with three doses for about 30 days. At the end of the experiment, when examination was done, it lowered the level of urea nitrogen, blood glucose, kidney injury molecule-1, plasma creatinine, tumor necrosis factor alpha, renal malondialdehyde, capase-3 and interleukin-6 in diabetic rats. Moreover, the levels of plasma insulin, uric acid, albumin, superoxide dismutase, renal catalase and vascular endothelial growth factor inflated in diabetic rats when treated with leaf extract of strawberry. The results of leaf extract is shown to be antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-apoptosis and anti-inflammatory. (1)
Prevent UV rays damage
The experiment shows that extract of strawberry when added to skin cells; it acts as a protector against UV radiation and promotes its viability and also lower DNA damage. It is verified that the protecting effect of extract of strawberry is effective against skin cell damage caused by UVA rays. It display photoprotective properties and increases viability and survival of cells and lowers DNA damage. Leaves, fruits and flowers have anthocyanins which are pigments that give them red color. These compounds possess anti-tumor, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and are able to modulate enzymatic processes. (2)
Lower cholesterol
Heart diseases have become a common problem in the world. The study shows that relationship between berries or berry anthocyanins and promotes cardiovascular health. The study shows that an intake of berry is associated with reduce in chances of heart related deaths. Berries promote HDL cholesterol, reduce blood pressure and promote the function of blood platelets. It promotes antioxidants, inhibit inflammation, lower oxidative stress, improve blood lipid profile, improve vascular function and lower harmful oxidation of LDL cholesterol. The supplementation for about 4 to 12 weeks significantly lowered inflammatory markers, LDL cholesterol and oxidized LDL particles.
Regulates blood sugar
The carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars when carbohydrates are digested and then released into bloodstream. When the levels of blood sugar increases, body start to secrete insulin which informs cells to pick sugar from bloodstream and use it for storage or fuel. The diet high in foods and imbalance regulation of blood sugar results in big spikes in blood sugar which is related with increase in chances of obesity, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Strawberries lower digestion of glucose and also lowers spikes in both insulin and glucose when followed carbohydrate rich meal in comparison to carbohydrate rich meal without strawberries. Strawberries are helpful to prevent type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Prevent cancer
Cancer is a serious health ailment which is featured by uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells beyond its normal limits. The progression and formation of cancer is associated with chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. The study shows that berries assist in prevention of cancer types with its ability to counteract inflammation and oxidative stress. It assists in inhibition of formation of tumor in animal model of oral cancer as well as in human liver cancer cells. The protective effects found in strawberries provide ellagitannins and ellagic acid which inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
Lower inflammation
Strawberries have high content of phytochemicals and antioxidants that counteract inflammatory diseases such as asthma, osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis and cancer. Research shows that strawberries could reduce the blood level of C-reactive protein which is responsible for causing inflammation. The study shows that women who consumed strawberries per week have 14% lower chances of elevation of levels of CRP.
Supports vision
The presence of free radicals is associated with eye problems. The deficiency of protective nutrients and increased age causes heavy damage to eyes. It may cause degeneration of optical nerves, witness dry eyes, vision defects, macular degeneration and promote susceptibility to infections. Strawberries have antioxidants such as phenolic phytochemicals, flavonoids and ellagic acid which prevent the chances of these situations. Strawberries are also able to fix disturbance in ocular pressure which is pressure within eyes. This pressure is harmful for eyes. This fruit contains potassium which helps to maintain correct pressure.
Supports immune system
Immune system counteracts with infections and microbial actions to prevent harmful conditions. The presence of Vitamin C in strawberry enhances immune system and helps to cure cold and common cold. Being an antioxidant Vitamin C helps to neutralize free radicals which are the dangerous byproducts of cellular metabolism which are created in our body. Free radicals are responsible for healthy DNA cells mutation into cancerous cells and cause various diseases such as cancers and heart diseases. Strawberries provide 150% of daily requirement of Vitamin C.
Treatment for gout and arthritis
The tissues and muscles degeneration and drying up of fluid increase joint mobility as well as accumulation of toxic substances and uric acid in the body are the effects of free radicals. It is the main cause of gout and arthritis. Strawberries are a great source of detoxifiers and antioxidants which helps to treat various health conditions. It is believed that daily intake of fruits eliminate rust from joints. Strawberries are helpful for the old age people as it possess anti-inflammatory properties to ease inflammation and related pain from these conditions.
Brain health
Old age people start to lose their memory and control over certain activities of limbs and muscles. It is due to premature aging of brain and nervous system. Free radicals are responsible for signs of aging as it has adverse effect on these systems. The tissues of brain start to degenerate and weaken nerves due to the activity of free radicals. Strawberries have phytochemicals and Vitamin C which neutralizes effects of oxidants and also rejuvenate system. Additionally, strawberries have high content of iodine which helps to regulate brain and nervous system functions. Strawberries have significant amounts of potassium which is associated with improve in cognitive function by promoting the flow of blood to brain. The studies show that high level of potassium helps to strengthen memory and recall abilities. Due to this reason, strawberries are considered to be a brain food.