UC Davis: Cracking the Code of Pistachio Genetics
March 24, 2025 | 1 min to read
Researchers at the University of California, Davis have created a comprehensive DNA map of the pistachio, which accounts for 99% of the nation’s production and generates nearly $3 billion in economic value. This detailed genetic sequence will aid plant breeders in developing more nutritious varieties and assist farmers in managing crops sustainably. Previously sequenced, this new map is significantly more accurate, paving the way for advancements in pistachio cultivation.
New DNA Map Could Lead to More Nutritious, Sustainable Nuts
California produces 99% of the nation’s pistachios, generating nearly $3 billion in economic value in the state. But pistachios have been slightly understudied in part because of the lack of a high-quality map of their DNA. University of California, Davis, researchers have now generated the most comprehensive genome sequence of the pistachio, allowing plant breeders to create better — perhaps more nutritious — varieties. They’ve also detailed how pistachio nuts develop, which will help farmers manage their crop more sustainably.
New Phytologist published the study.
Scientists have sequenced the DNA of pistachios before, but co-corresponding author J. Grey Monroe, an assistant professor with the Department of Plant Sciences, said this new genetic map is vastly more detailed and accurate.
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