Unlocking Apple Texture: A Genetic Key to Firmness and Ripening
Chinese Academy of SciencesFruit firmness plays a critical role in apple quality, influencing both shelf life and consumer preference. Scientists have now identified a natural genetic variation in the MdNAC5 gene that governs differences in apple firmness and ripening speed. By resequencing hundreds of apple hybrids, researchers mapped a key genetic locus and pinpointed a single A-to-T mutation that affects fruit texture. Functional experiments showed that different MdNAC5 variants distinctly regulate ethylene biosynthesis, a central pathway in fruit softening. This discovery offers new insights into the genetic control of apple ripening and opens up potential strategies for breeding apples with optimized firmness and storage properties.