PULLMAN, Wash. – A genetically engineered apple that doesn’t brown after it is cut has received media attention recently. Meanwhile, Washington State University’s recently released apple variety, WA 38, also is extremely slow to brown – and it was developed with conventional breeding techniques used for millennia.
WSU’s apple breeding program is led by Kate Evans. For more information on WA 38, please visit http://www.tfrec.wsu.edu/pages/breed/WA38.
In other WSU apple research, scientists led by Amit Dhingra and collaborating with an international team sequenced the apple genome. Subsequent genomics research at WSU involving apple, and other members of the Rosaceae family, has further informed traditional breeding.
Rosaceae is economically the most important family of plants; it includes apple, cherry, peach, pear and almond, as well as its namesake, rose.
Contacts:
Kate Evans, WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, Wenatchee, Wash., 509-663-8181, kate_evans@wsu.edu
Amit Dhingra, WSU Department of Horticulture, 509-335-3625, adhingra@wsu.edu