A bittersweet symphony: genetic insights into cider apple fruit quality.

ABSTRACT: Many traditional cider apples (Malus domestica) have unique chemotypic traits that impact the sensory profile and fermentation characteristics of the final product. In particular, cider apples may have greater polyphenol, organic acid, and sugar concentration than fresh-market apples. Despite historic importance and a growing market in many parts of the world, the genetic basis underlying cider apple fruit quality remains poorly understood. Therefore, few functional genetic markers have been successfully adapted for cider apple breeding. Using a genome-wide association study on 253 cider apple accessions from the USDA Malus collection, we identified 19 significant marker-trait associations for fruit quality traits. Notably, we identified a distinct marker on chromosome 15 that was strongly

SUBMITTER: Bouillon P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12774593 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature