Scientists from the Agricultural Research Service of the US
Department of Agriculture have significantly reduced the time to
determine if an apple tree will grow to be a dwarf and resist diseases.
Through gene mapping, Genarro Fazio and H. Todd Holleran of the ARS Plant
Genetic Resources Unit in New York, have discovered the genetic
inheritance of the dwarfing characteristic in apple tree roots, also
known as rootstocks.
The discovery can help researchers find molecular markers that can help
identify dwarf varieties, as well as positive and negative traits within
those varieties, early in their development. Currently, a tree must grow
for about 12 years before growers can tell whether it's a dwarf.
Fazio says the ability to read genetic markers may cut these evaluation
times in half. In addition, further understanding of the workings of the
genetic inheritance gene may make it possible to transfer the knowledge
to other tree fruit systems.
More on this research in the November issue of Agricultural Research
magazine, available online at:
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/nov03/apple1103.htm
-----Suzi Teghtmeyer
Librarian, Paul Evans Library of Fruit Science
Southwest Missouri State University Mtn. Grove Campus and Missouri Fruit
Experiment Station
9740 Red Spring Rd, Mountain Grove, MO 65711
Phone: 417-926-4105, Fax: 417-926-6646, email:
srt175f@smsu.edu
URL:
http://library.smsu.edu/paulevans/ AgNIC Viticulture site:
http://library.smsu.edu/paulevans/viticulture1.shtml Member: CBHL, USAIN, ALA, ACRL, IAALD
[NAFEX] Report: dwarf apple tree or not?,
Suzi Teghtmeyer, 11/14/2003