The gene that controls the colour of apples has been discovered by a CSIRO Plant Industry research team.
The breakthrough may lead to bright new apple varieties, according to the researchers.
Team leader Dr Mandy Walker said: “The red colour in apple skin is the result of anthocyanins, the natural plant compounds responsible for blue and red colours in many flowers and fruits.
“Colour is very important in fruit marketing. If fruit doesn’t look good, consumers are far less likely to buy it, no matter how good it might taste.
The team used the latest molecular technology to measure how much certain genes were shown in apple skin as the fruit ripened and coloured.
Dr Walker added: “Apple growers have always known that apple colour is dependent on light - apples grown in darknes or even heavy shade don’t turn red when they ripen. That made it very likely that the gene we were looking for requires light to be activated.”
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