An apple a day, keeps the doctor away. We all have grown up hearing that one  from our mothers especially at the breakfast table. It’s still difficult for moms to persuade their kids to eat apples on any given day when there are plenty of unhealthy but tempting fruit flavored substitutes available in the supermarket. Here’s a piece of news that might create an interest in mothers. Scientists, in particular fruit geneticists in N.Y. have developed a new variety of apples that taste like berries! The New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES) in Geneva is the laboratory-locale where fantastically newly flavored apple varieties are being developed under the apple-breeding program. This program is more than a century year old and focuses on developing new kinds of apple trees that produce distinctly flavored fruit. Any apple on the tree usually contains a few numbers of seeds in it that bear qualities different from the parent tree.

These seeds when selectively planted grow into lush trees producing a fruit, which tastes different from the one on parent tree. In nature, newer varieties are produced by chance. However, in the apple breeding program, superior varieties are created and worked upon keeping in mind the tastes and moods of consumers. And this involves a lot of science esply. Plant genetics. Employing the tools of genetic engineering, a diverse variety of apples can be produced commercially. For this studies are conducted on gene families so that one can get a berry-tasting apple in one variety or an apple loaded with vit. C. There are genes that can be incorporated in to the gene pool of a yummy, crispy apple to make the apple fragrant like a rose! While the trial fruit (grown in the orchard–labs of the institute) seems promising, launching the product at a commercial scale could be tricky. Also, it can’t be said right now that the enlightened and health conscious consumers of today, will openly embrace such altered fruits. For the time being, the news is a promising one. And if these berry flavored apples are able to win the hearts and taste buds of kids then rest assured, moms would become worrywarts for their kids health!

Via