09/03/08 Intelli-GEN-Design: Fruit of the Future

Intelli-GEN-Design: Fruit of the Future. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. WSU researcher Amit Dhingra's big ideas for improving fruit quality and growing techniques are making a world of difference. DHINGRA: My program is based on WSU's commitment and recent investment in the area of enhancing research and development infrastructure to support the horticulture industry, the specialty crop industry in the state. Some of the research that we are doing in the lab which was started with seed funding from Washington State University and now moving towards mapping the genomic blueprint of apples. Dhingra wants you to be clear that this research is not about changing the genetic structure of apples. DHINGRA: When you work with genes it does not mean you're altering anything. So this is not trans-genetic or genetic modified organisms. We are trying to understand the blueprint. Just the basic infrastructure of the genome so that we can use that information for effective crop improvement. It's like having a map of a state where you have never been before so you can see where you want to go. DHINGRA: For example if you are a producer, once we understand the genomic blueprint we can design crops for specific needs. Specific needs such as the changing environment or if you are an engineer you might be interested in mechanical harvesting or developing tools for mechanical harvesting. But if we understand the genomic blueprint then we can design crops that can be harvested mechnically. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.