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Sun World
launches DNA profiling program
2007
reprinted from
Fresh Plaza
http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=62
One of the world’s foremost
fruit breeders has launched an
extensive DNA profiling effort
to properly catalogue and
identify its lines of seedless
table grape, plum, peach, and
apricot varieties. Sun World
International LLC has built a
comprehensive library of
genetic fingerprints that
identify the proprietary fruit
varieties it develops at its
Research & Development Center
here, Senior Vice President
David Marguleas said.
The varieties, which form the
basis for Sun World’s own
California fruit production as
well as that of its
international licensees, are
protected under various Plant
Breeders Rights or plant
patent rights in the United
States, Europe, South Africa,
Chile, Australia, New Zealand
and numerous other countries.
DNA analyses are undertaken at
leading DNA testing facilities
in North America and Europe
where Sun World is able to
accurately catalogue and
identify its varieties,
Marguleas said.
DNA contains the genetic
instructions for the
development and functioning of
living organisms such as
plants, as well as inheritance
traits that enable scientists
to accurately identify
different organisms, including
plants that bear fruit.
“Effective Intellectual
Property protection remains
critical to our long-term
success as a breeder,
producer, marketer and
licensor of new fruit
varieties. This new DNA
testing program -- utilizing
well-established, recognized
technology and involving
initial fingerprinting as well
as random market checks
throughout the fruit season --
provides Sun World with a
powerful tool in the
protection of valuable fruit
varieties,” Marguleas noted.
From suspect fruit purchased
in the marketplace, DNA
samples can be easily
extracted, tested and analyzed
and from which scientists can
determine whether the suspect
variety originated in Sun
World’s breeding program, he
said. This fingerprinting
capability, coupled with the
expanded new legal protection
that many countries’ plant
variety rights legislation
offers breeders by preventing
the sale of infringing fruit,
will bolster IP rights and
encourage added investment in
variety development programs,”
he added.
The testing process involves
extracting DNA from almost any
plant tissue including the
flesh of the fruit. The DNA
extracted can be used for many
analyses and can be stored for
many years. This DNA sample
can then be shipped to one of
Sun World’s testing facilities
in North America or Europe.
“Laboratories need a large
library of varieties to ensure
positive variety
identification,” according to
Sun World Grape Breeder Dr.
Michael Striem. “Over the
course of the past five years,
Sun World has established a
DNA fingerprint library on
more than 70 varieties,
establishing one of the
world’s largest DNA
collections for proprietary
fruit,” Striem added.
Sun World owns 180 plant
patents for new varieties of
seedless grapes, peaches,
apricots and plums in 16
countries. It has established
a fruit licensing program that
involves more than 1,000
producers and leading
marketing companies in most of
the world’s major
fruit-growing regions.
The California company’s new
variety development work
focuses on a full range of
seedless grapes with
extraordinary characteristics
such as enhanced flavor,
distinctive taste, larger
berries and clusters, earlier
and later ripening times and
availability, and increased
productivity. It also develops
new plums, peaches, apricots
and nectarines with
distinctive traits.
Sun World’s proprietary grapes
include a wide range of white,
red and black seedless
varieties that are sold under
private trademarks and brands
such as MIDNIGHT BEAUTY®,
SUPERIOR SEEDLESS®, SCARLOTTA
SEEDLESS®, SABLE SEEDLESS® and
SOPHIA SEEDLESS®. Stonefruit
varieties include dozens of
individual plum, peach and
apricot varieties that are
sold under brands such as
BLACK DIAMOND®, BLACK GIANT®,
HONEYCOT® and AMBER CREST®.
Sun World, one of the United
States’ leading producers and
marketers of fresh fruit,
operates one of the world’s
largest table grape and
stonefruit breeding programs.
Since its inception in the
mid-1970s, the Company’s
Research & Development Center
has released more than 55 new
varieties with improved
flavor, size, color,
shelf-life and extended
seasonality. In addition to
production on its own
California vineyards and
orchards, Sun World and/or its
licensees grow these
proprietary varieties in North
America, Europe, South
America, Australia, the Middle
East, and South Africa.
Sun World International (www.sun-world.com,
www.sunworldfruit.com)
is a leading innovator in the
research, production,
distribution and promotion of
fresh produce. It maintains
integrated agricultural
operations throughout central
and southeastern California
and licensing offices in South
Africa, Australia, Europe and
Chile |
