{"id":53123,"date":"2025-04-26T21:43:12","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T21:43:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/53123\/"},"modified":"2025-04-26T21:43:12","modified_gmt":"2025-04-26T21:43:12","slug":"scientists-uncover-the-genetic-landscape-of-the-apple-genus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/53123\/","title":{"rendered":"Scientists uncover the genetic landscape of the apple genus"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Apples\"Apples belong to the genus Malus, which is nestled within Rosaceae, the rose family. Credit: Pixabay \"Stephanie Stephanie Leonida<\/a> 25\/04\/2025 17:00 4 min <\/p>\n

Penn State University biologists collaborated with an international team<\/strong> of researchers to map the genetics of the Malus genus<\/strong>, which includes species of apple and wild crab apple<\/strong>, revealing shared and species-specific genetic architectures<\/strong>, some associated with scab disease resistance<\/strong>, as well as areas linked to reduced cold and disease resistance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

An overview of the genus Malus<\/p>\n

The genus Malus represents a group of closely related species sharing similar traits<\/strong>, which reside within the rose (Rosaceae) family. The Malus genus includes the domesticated apple<\/strong> (Malus domestica, M. domestica), which is thought to be derived from M. sieversii in Central Asia<\/a> and its hybridisation and backcrossing<\/strong> with the common crab apple, M. sylvestris, and M. orientalis from the Caucasus and surrounding areas.<\/p>\n

\"Harvard<\/a><\/p>\n

Hybridisation of species involves the transfer of genetic information<\/strong> to create genetically enriched\/diverse<\/strong> hybridised offspring<\/strong>. Backcrossing refers to the hybridisation of such offspring with parental lines<\/strong>, which generates further genetic diversity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Pan genome analysis<\/p>\n

Pan-genome analysis<\/strong> examines the entire set of genes within a species. This includes the core genes shared between all individuals<\/strong> and less conspicuous<\/strong> genes shared by a smaller proportion of individuals. With this method, a species’ complete genetic diversity<\/strong>\u2014including rare genes<\/strong> present in a small number of individuals\u2014is captured. A pan-genome offers a more thorough picture of an organism’s genetic topography<\/strong> than a single reference genome, encompassing polymorphisms\/or gene variants<\/strong> that give rise to significant biological processes<\/strong> and adaptations.<\/p>\n

Research methods and implications<\/p>\n

Researchers sequenced the genomes of 30 species<\/strong>, including the domesticated Golden Delicious <\/strong>variety. The team recorded 20 diploid (meaning a species bearing two complete sets of chromosomes<\/strong>) and 10 polyploid species (or species bearing more than two complete sets of chromosomes<\/strong>). They constructed and genetic family tree for Malus by comparing around 1,000 genes from every single species<\/strong>, and then used biogeographical analysis<\/strong> to determine the genus’s origin. <\/p>\n

\"These<\/a><\/p>\n

The team used pan-genome analysis<\/strong> to compare accessory and core genes<\/strong>, examining structural variants<\/strong> (wide-ranging alterations<\/strong> such as gene duplications or rearrangements<\/strong>) and other genetic components such as transposons (mobile genetic elements<\/strong> that can jump between different areas of the genome). The group found a particular genomic area associated with resistance to apple scab disease<\/strong>\u2014caused by the fungus Venturia inaequalis. <\/p>\n

To improve apple breeding, they also devised a technique to identify<\/strong> selected sweeps<\/strong>, which are indicators that an advantageous genetic characteristic spreads quickly<\/strong> throughout a population. These sweeps indicate areas linked to disease resistance<\/strong> and cold tolerance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The insights gained from understanding the complexity<\/strong> of Malus species genomes provide a foundation for tailored breeding regimes<\/strong> that might bring about desirable traits<\/strong>, such as disease resistance<\/strong> and improved taste<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

News reference<\/p>\n

Pan-genome analysis reveals the evolution and diversity of Malus<\/a>. Nature Genetics. April, 2025. Li, W.; Chu, C.; Zhang, T., et al. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Apples belong to the genus Malus, which is nestled within Rosaceae, the rose family. Credit: Pixabay Stephanie Leonida…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":53124,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3846],"tags":[3971,1662,28391,2342,267,3900,2343,70,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-53123","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-genetics","8":"tag-agriculture","9":"tag-apple","10":"tag-breeding","11":"tag-disease","12":"tag-genetics","13":"tag-genomics","14":"tag-research","15":"tag-science","16":"tag-uk","17":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114406451589189144","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53123","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53123"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53123\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53124"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}