Breeding and Engineering New Apple Cultivars: Rediscovering Historic Varieties

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This chapter explores the process of breeding apple cultivars and the potential of genetic engineering to speed up the process, focusing on genetically transformed apples approved for sale in the US and their longer shelf life. It also discusses the importance of existing variation, concerns over pathogens in heirloom varieties, and the value of preserving and restoring heirloom apple trees.

Researchers have been resurrecting apple trees to revive forgotten varieties of the fruit. They hope that sequencing these apples' genomes could uncover mutations that influence flavour, colour, crispness and other characteristics. This knowledge could help unlock the next blockbuster fruit, and develop trees that are more resistant to disease, climate change and other environmental pressures.

This is an audio version of our Feature Apple revival: how science is bringing historic varieties back to life

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