Scientists and growers can use a new genome database to help make fruit trees more disease- and pest-resistant and enhance crop quality.
Growing Florida
Monday, June 9th, 2014
Scientists and growers can use a new genome database developed in part by University of Florida and Washington State University researchers to help make fruit trees more disease- and pest-resistant and enhance crop quality. Researchers who study citrus, rosaceae and vaccinium crops will be the primary users of the portal, said Mercy Olmstead, assistant professor of horticultural sciences at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, but agricultural producers will also reap the benefits. Rosaceae include apples, cherries, peaches, strawberries, pears and ornamental roses. Vaccinium fruits include blueberries and cranberries.
Olmstead, Fred Gmitter, a genetics and breeding professor at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred and Jim Olmstead, assistant professor of horticultural sciences, both also at UF/IFAS, helped create what they and other scientists are calling the Tree Fruit Genome Database Resources. Dorrie Main, associate professor of bioinformatics at Washington State University, leads the project.