 | |
| Purdue University photo/Peter Hirst | |
Researchers have discovered why some Gala apples grow larger than other Gala apples. It appears that Grand Gala apples undergo a process called endoreduplication which allows their cells to grow larger than normal. In endoreduplication, DNA in the nucleus is duplicated and cell size increases, but the cells do not go through the process of dividing called mitosis. The result is that Grand Galas are about 15 percent larger than regular Galas.
According to the researchers, the Grand Galas have the same core size as the regular Galas, so the increase is all in the cortex or flesh of the apple. The Grand Galas are also crunchier and said to taste better than the regular Galas. Despite this, researcher Peter Hirst states, "You won't see Grand Galas in the grocery store. Consumers like shiny, perfect-looking apples. Grand Galas are slightly lopsided. They're good eating apples, but the end product isn't something that consumers are used to seeing at the store." Although endoreduplication is common in plants, this is the first time the process has been observed in apples.
Learn more about this study:
- Apples Grow Larger When Cells Don't Divide Science Daily
Comments