Marcher Apple Network

Marcher Apple Network

RHWYDWAITH AFALAU’R GORORAU

Reviving the Old Apple and Pear Varieties in the Welsh Marches

NFC, fruitID project for aiding identification by DNA Analysis

National Fruit Collection

The UK’s National Fruit Collection (NFC) at Brogdale has many thousand cultivars. There are over 2000 varieties of apples and all have been fingerprinted by DNA SSR methods.  It is well supported by a searchable database including clear compact photographs of fruit.  Information is readily available at http://www.nationalfruitcollection.org.uk/ and is curated by Dr Matthew Ordidge of Reading University.

fruitID

Peter Laws and his colleagues have developed an extensive website for aiding the identification of fruit cultivars, apples, pears, plums and cobnuts.  fruitID https://www.fruitid.com/#main full descriptions of many hundreds of cultivars taken from literature, with synopses, searchable databases, supported with detailed quality photographs of a range of samples. Included too is an extensive library of books and pomonas and useful research papers.

The project for aiding identification

Recognising the utility of DNA fingerprinting confirm identification at the NFC and elsewhere, both groups have supported a project set up throughout UK and Ireland. It provides a commercial service to have samples (usually leaves) analysed for their DNA by East Malling Research (EMR), the same laboratory used by the NFC in their characterization work.

Initially when kicked-off early in 2016, Peter thought there might be 50, possibly 100, samples submitted by orchard groups. Every year the average number has been about 10 times that level of interest. Samples collected in the summer and results distributed usually in January.  Raw experimental results from DNA analysis are checked against calibration standards, and the scientists at EMR meticulously check these against their extensive data from prior NFC work and other samples submitted. Subsequently the results are worked up by Peter for highlighting matching samples and residual queries. Matthew Ordidge checks and comments upon these results for producing the best view of the likely variety of each sample. Peter then lets all participants know all the results which includes the fingerprint, the suggested ID, and the sample numbers and submitting organisations for which there were matches. Peter administers the scheme and its associated data management seemingly as effortlessly as it is certainly efficient.

From 2023 NIAB in Cambridge are taking over carrying out analysis.

An immensely useful further dimension to the project occurred in 2021 when Peter Laws found a way of doing consistent translation of the European dataset of apple SSR, taken with 16 markers, to the UK set with 12 markers. This has meant that DNA analysis of a UK and Irish apple can now be compared with over 5000 fingerprints. Some UK samples previously unmatched now have a continental peer, such as Blanc Mollet, Damelot, John Downie.  And further, through  parentage studies more links are possible, e.g. MAN’s find of Barcelona Pearmain is seen as progeny of Reinette des Carmes, an old French variety.  The UK National Apple Register notes Barcelona Pearmain has long be called Reinette des Carmes.

Details of the scheme can be found on the fruitID help page https://www.fruitid.com/#help.

MAN joined this project with enthusiasm.  In summary benefits have been:

  • An increased confidence in ID of over 150 varieties in our collection;
  • Over 40 varieties we hold are out-of-area, ones we’d likely never have identified;
  • where our varieties match those held elsewhere, we know with whom to speak;
  • when there is no match with any other sample, we can eliminate about 3000 varieties immediately;
  • we have a much better idea of which may be seedlings, we know the unknowns;
  • some understanding of parentage is appearing and;
  • most importantly, a greater sense of national community has been created enabling a more focused and supportive dialogue amongst all interested parties.

The Marcher Apple Network wishes to record its whole-hearted appreciation to all involved at fruitID, NFC, EMR, and INRAE for the excellent collaboration, quality results and friendly service.  It has been and continues to be great fun working with them and all other participating groups.  Thank you.