US: Researchers create the first annotated Montmorency tart cherry genome

Published 2023년 5월 18일

Tridge summary

Researchers at Michigan State University, in a collaborative effort, have successfully mapped the genome of the Montmorency tart cherry, a significant development for the cherry industry. The project aimed to identify genes linked to late blooming, a critical adaptation to climate change, especially in Michigan. However, the research uncovered the complex allotetraploid nature of tart cherries, with four sets of chromosomes from two ancestral species, adding to its genetic complexity. The team is now using this information to understand bloom time, fruit traits, and to develop cherry varieties that are resilient to spring weather variations. This breakthrough is expected to boost tart cherry research and breeding globally, potentially leading to more resilient and productive cherry trees.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Since Michigan is the nation's leading producer of tart cherries, Michigan State University researchers were searching for the genes associated with tart cherry trees that bloom later in the season to meet the needs of a changing climate. They started by comparing DNA sequences from late-blooming tart cherry trees to the sequenced genome of a related species, the peach. However, in a surprise to the researchers, the genetic discrepancies between the species outweighed the similarities. This led the team to create the first annotated Montmorency tart cherry genome and identify the DNA segments that code for each gene. The research was published in the journal Horticulture Research. "I naively thought that this would be an easy endeavor; we would simply sequence a few early and late-blooming cherry trees and align the sequences to the peach genome and get an answer in just a few weeks," said Courtney Hollender, an ...

Source: Phys