Abu Dhabi, UAE – Researchers at New York University Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with international partners, have completed a study on developing more sustainable and resilient agricultural crops. It focused on the importance of protecting wild fruit tree populations and using their genetic diversity to support sustainable agriculture over decades.
Researchers have revealed new insights into how apples transform into the shape we know today. Explaining that its evolution was shaped by constant exchange with wild apple trees.
Continuous interactions with wild species
In a study published in the international journal Current Biology, the research team compared farmed apples with their relatives of wild varieties in Europe and Asia. Their results revealed that apples resulted from continuous interactions with wild species, leaving an indelible mark on their DNA.
Amandine Cornell, an assistant professor of biology at New York University Abu Dhabi and lead author of the study, said apples are the result of a long and ongoing relationship between cultivated trees and their wild relatives. This constant exchange has contributed to maintaining the apple’s versatility and flexibility over time.
She added that the results highlight that wild apple trees are not just a part of the past; they remain a vital resource for the future. Wild populations contain valuable traits that could help scientists and farmers develop new apple varieties better suited to resist disease and climate change.
Research suggests that other fruit trees may have followed similar evolutionary paths, relying on exchanges with wild relatives to survive and thrive.
The study emphasizes the importance of protecting wild fruit tree populations and using their genetic diversity to support more sustainable and resilient agriculture in the coming years.
