New approaches to apple breeding

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Apple breeding is a lengthy process that takes several decades. At the Institute of Breeding Research in Dresden-Pillnitz methods are being investigated to speed up this process. For example, genetic engineering is used to encourage apple plants to flower earlier.

Science live

• "It works just like traditional apple breeding, but it's quicker." Interview with Henryk Flachowsky (JKI)

 

Disease-resistant apple trees

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Genetic methods have been used to produce apple trees that are resistant to the widespread apple diseases fire blight, apple scab and apple powdery mildew. However, plans to carry out deliberate releases with these apple trees have been rejected. Current biosafety research projects are now investigating whether the transgenic apple trees have effects on beneficial fungi and bacteria.
 

Research info

• SiFo project (2005-2008): Transgenic fungal-resistant apple trees – effects on pathogenic and beneficial fungi, UFZ Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig/Halle

• SiFo project (2005-2008): Transgenic apple varieties: Possible effects on micro-organisms, BAZ (since 2008 JKI), Dresden-Pillnitz

Background

• Deliberate releases planned. Conflict over transgenic apple trees (10/2003)
• Apple trees: deliberate release refused (11/2003)
• Interview with Viola Hanke: "... they don't spread unchecked."

 

Apples – Preventing outcrossing

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Can the activity of genes in non-transgenic apple plants be affected if they are grafted onto a transgenic rootstock? This is the issue being investigated by a current biosafety project. The aim is to prevent the outcrossing of genetically modified DNA.

Research live

• "We activate a natural defence mechanism and switch off specifically targeted genes." A visit to the Institute of Fruit Breeding in Dresden-Pillnitz 

Research info

• SiFo project (2005-2008): Transgenic apple varieties: Approaches to preventing outcrossing, BAZ (since 2008 JKI), Dresden-Pillnitz

Background

• Gene silencing: RNA interference – a new groundbreaking discovery