News about Genetics

Pairwise’s seedless cherries and blackberries could revolutionise the future of food

Breeding

27 Aug 2026

CRISPR opens new prospects for cherries, blackberries and other crops as Pairwise develops seedless, thornless fruit, higher productivity and resilient varieties. The challenge is bringing gene editing from labs into farms amid costs, regulation and consumer acceptance.

Pigmentation variability in sour cherry: fruit color does not reflect genetic relatedness

Breeding

12 Aug 2026

A study of 27 Hungarian and international sour cherry cultivars examines genetics, anthocyanins and fruit pigmentation. Results show that fruit colour depends mainly on gene expression and regulators such as MYB10, rather than on overall genetic relatedness among cultivars.

The surprising genetic reason why cherry trees all bloom at the same time.

Breeding

13 Apr 2026

Cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. create a stunning spring display with thousands of identical trees. Behind this beauty lies a weakness: cloning makes them more vulnerable to pests and diseases, leading experts to develop stronger, more resilient varieties.

Premium cherry genetics: from DNA to quality and postharvest resilience

Breeding

15 Aug 2025

From size to shelf life, genetics shape the future of sweet cherries. From genome mapping to key genes PavCNR12 and PaCYP78A9, and with CRISPR and genomic selection, new varieties are bred to be larger, tastier, and more resilient across the entire supply chain.

How genetics shapes cherry flavor: from sweet sorbitol to tart malic acid

Breeding

01 Jul 2025

Researchers from Clemson University and Spain’s CITA discovered the genetic basis of sweetness and acidity in sweet cherries. With QTL mapping and haplotype analysis, breeders can now develop better-tasting, more stable varieties tailored to consumer preferences in Europe.

Cherries and patents: DNA screening can fight legal disputes

Breeding

10 Jan 2025

According to a lengthy legal dispute between the Canadian government and some fruit companies in Washington, several forms of DNA screening, years of field experiments, and a federal judge's ruling are required.

Researchers explain the regulatory mechanism of dormancy genes

Breeding

30 Dec 2024

The aim of the work presented in Cáceres (Spain) was to study the relationship between the expression of PavDAM genes throughout the entire winter dormancy period, that is, from the onset of dormancy until the beginning of bud break (from October to February).

Genetics as starting point against Drosophila suzukii

Crop protection

18 Dec 2024

Researchers from the Ecological Sciences Division of the James Hutton Institute researched collecting infested fruit from both cultivated fields and natural areas to assess genetic differences between Drosophila suzukii individuals feeding on the various fruit cohorts.

Wild cherry ‘plus’ trees available thanks to innovative Future Trees Trust project

Breeding

12 Dec 2024

“Supersizing Broadleaves” is an innovative project investigating the source of seeds, nursery production, and outstanding tree examples (called plus trees) of oak, sycamore, birch, and cherry in the UK.

The effects of promalin and mulching on sweet cherry tree formation

Nurseries

09 Dec 2024

The aim of the study conducted in the experimental area of the Faculty of Agriculture of Selçuk University (Turkey) was to evaluate the impact of different types of plastic mulch on soil temperature, both independently and in combination with promalin.