263: Apple Identification and Genetics

263: Apple Identification and Genetics

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist March 10, 2021 Duration: 18:48

Science Based Resource for Apple Identification

Up to this point we've all been reliant upon drawings and descriptions from historical books and "those in the know" to identify specific apple varieties. Today, as you will see below, there is now an option to have an apple's parentage checked via the DNA.

Apple Identification via Genetics has arrived!

Cameron Peace PhD of Washington State University's presentation on "The Reconstruction of the Apple Family and other cider genetics". This video is synced with the power point presentation presented by Dr. Peace at Franklin County CiderDays 2019.

Extra notes from Dr. Peace:

Cost of DNA profiling to determine identity and/or parentage is currently $120 per tree (sorry). Your photos and background stories of each mystery tree to be tested are welcome and requested – I'm interested in learning about each tree and joining you in making discoveries. Please note that this is NOT a commercial service but rather a research opportunity. Besides genetics answers provided back to you, knowledge of public interest might be revealed such as filling of gaps in the cultivated apple family tree. DNA profiles of apple tree submissions (your name redacted) are added to a larger dataset (publicly accessible by scientists) and might be used as examples in future scientific presentations and studies. To obtain leaf sample collection instructions, please email me at cpeace@wsu.edu

Heritage Orchard Conference

For a recently recorded and complementary talk by Dr. Peace on "Apple Identification with DNA: Identity and Parentage Revelations using New Tools" and other great talks by heritage apple experts, please see the Heritage Orchard Conference webinar series based out of the University of Idaho.

Here is one of the first webinar on the series. This one below is on Sleuthing for Lost Apples.

 

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There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 501

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