Red fleshed Apples Study wins award in New Zeland
15 Oct 2009
Juan Valverde
Last August the New Zealand's MacDiarmid Young Scientist of the year award for the Adding Value to Nature Category was given to Dr. Richard Espley for his research conducted with Red Fleshed Apples (to see images of this amazing looking fruit please see links below). In addition Dr. Espley was awarded with the Commercialization Award for his research due to the great potential of commercial application of his work.
Dr. Espley (PhD University of Auckland, NZ) work in red flesh apples consist in studying the genetic mechanism which control the coloring of these apples. His work will help to breed apples that have novel colour characteristics and are high in antioxidant compounds.
The work shows that a natural alteration in the DNA of the gene (MYB10) that controls color in apples. This gene belongs to a class of genes that produce proteins which bind to other genes and switch them on or off. In the case of the MYB10 gene results in a protein that switches on genes in the Anthocyanin production pathway, giving the apple its characteristic red flesh.
The understanding of how the anthocyanins are regulated at a genetic level will lead to a better understanding on how to breed red apples, which are very attractive from the innovation point of view.
Any Irish Orchards ready to innovate?
Let's celebrate with a glass of Red Apple Cider!
For further information on this work please visit the following links:
http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/news/breeding-apples-with-red-flesh.php
