August 30, 2010

Researchers trace apple’s roots to Kazakhstan

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PULLMAN — Washington State University reports genetic research has traced the ancestor of the apple tree to a wild ancestor (Malus sieversii) that originated in the mountains of southern Kazakhstan.

WSU says that the apple’s origin is one of the questions answered in a draft sequence of the domestic apple genome published in the journal Nature Genetics.

The work involved an international team of scientists, including researchers at Washington State University and the University of Washington.

The research will help growers improve fruit and fight diseases in apples and related species such as peaches, pears and apricots.

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