An increasing emphasis on gene identification and the development of DNA markers to improve the efficiency of breeding programmes and management of genetic resources across a plant family were the hot topics at a recent international meeting hosted by East Malling Research (EMR).

Forty delegates from nine European countries attended the meeting, on the subject of Rosaceous Genomics research, to consider how genetic knowledge across this plant family can help with crop improvement.

The Rosaceae includes many of the UK’s fruit crops and ornamentals, such as apple, pear, cherry, raspberry, strawberry, rowan and rose. Similarities between the crops at molecular level mean that knowledge of agronomic genes and markers in one crop can now be a short-cut to finding them in another. Thus, for example, the wild strawberry, a small herbaceous plant with a short lifespan, can be used as a genetic model for not only the cultivated strawberry, but also tree fruits such as apple and cherry.

Molecular screening can be used to detect the presence of resistance genes, and DNA fingerprints can be used to identify plants in gene-bank collections, which saves both time and resources by reducing the need for expensive comparative trials. Recent advances in all the important crops were presented.

The meeting concluded with a discussion of plans for a European Rosaceous Genomics Initiative, with a view to securing European funding for collaborative research.

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