Genes -a shortcut to better fruits

 

A couple of weeks ago, the complete genome of apple was mapped for the first time by an international team of scientists. Knowledge about all of the genes in a fruit and their function can help to breed new fruit varieties with desired characteristics. Also, the ability to grow in more extreme environments can be favoured. Work is ongoing to identify which genes are responsible for which apple characteristics, for example firmness, aroma and sugar content and in the long term will enable breeders to preselect seedlings which possess desirable characteristics, very early in the breeding process. The time it takes to develop a new variety, with specific characteristics, could be considerably shortened due to these research advances (source: the Telegraph). Watch a video from the ISAFRUIT project about how this method has been applied to peaches and apricots.