Sour cherries (Prunus cerasus L.) have a very large genome (tetraploid). This is due to the fact that during evolution, meaning the transition from wild ancestors to modern varieties, the genomes of the parent plants combined. The size and complexity of the genome have so far made it difficult to decode the complete genetic sequence of some varieties.
A research group from the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) in Dresden, the University of Greifswald, and the Dutch company KeyGene has now succeeded in doing this for the “Schattenmorelle” variety. In “Frontiers in Plant Science,” the researchers describe how they decoded the building blocks of the large genome using an innovative technology capable of generating long DNA sequences and bioinformatics tricks.
With the genome sequence of the sour cherry, all the important genetic data are now available to draw conclusions about the origin of sour cherries.
The steppe cherry, depicted here as a flowering shrub, is clearly a parent of today's sour cherry species.
“Sour cherries originated in the regions of the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea through the natural crossbreeding of the two parental species of the steppe cherry (Prunus fruticosa Pall.) and the sweet cherry (P. avium L.),” reports Dr. Thomas Wöhner from JKI in Dresden-Pillnitz. The exact time and place of this “spontaneous mating” and its effects on the genome structure are not yet fully clarified.
“What is certain, however, is that the two parental species initially developed separately from each other. Later, in areas where they evolved simultaneously, a random hybridization must have occurred, giving rise to today’s sour cherries,” explains the researcher. As confirmed by the genome sequence of the sour cherry, the genome of the sour cherry is made up of two parts. One half of the chromosomes comes from the sweet cherry, and the other from the steppe cherry.
Source: Bionity.com
Image: Bionity.com
08 Apr 2025
In Spain’s Jerte Valley, over two million cherry trees are now in bloom: the first cherries will be harvested in 35 to 40 days. The D.O.P. adds new certified varieties like Van, Lapins, and Burlat, extending the season until August and focusing on high-quality production.
27 Nov 2025
An international research project led by Texas A&M University and involving PUCV aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind the health benefits of sweet cherries, focusing on their potential to prevent obesity and metabolic disorders through multi-omic approaches.
26 Dec 2025
In 2024, cherry consumption in the European Union reached 629,000 tonnes, marking a +4.5% increase on an annual basis and reaching its highest level in ten years. Production, imports and exports are also growing, with Italy and Spain among the leading countries.
25 Dec 2025
La Junta de Extremadura ha distribuito 904.540 euro nel secondo pagamento dell’aiuto straordinario 2024 per i cerasicoltori colpiti dal maltempo. La misura, parte del Decreto Legge 3/2025, prevede un’ultima tranche da un milione di euro in arrivo nei prossimi giorni.
