Walnut species are important nut and timber producers in temperate regions of Europe, Asia, South America, and North America. Trees can be impacted by Phytophthora, crown gall, nematodes, Armillaria, and cherry leaf roll virus; nuts can be severely damaged by codling moth, husk fly, and Xanthomonas blight. The long generation time of walnuts and an absence of identified natural resistance for most of these problems suggest biotechnological approaches to crop improvement.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGallic acid (GA), a key intermediate in the synthesis of plant hydrolysable tannins, is also a primary anti-inflammatory, cardio-protective agent found in wine, tea, and cocoa. In this publication, we reveal the identity of a gene and encoded protein essential for GA synthesis. Although it has long been recognized that plants, bacteria, and fungi synthesize and accumulate GA, the pathway leading to its synthesis was largely unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWalnut species are important nut and timber producers in temperate regions of Europe, Asia, South America, and North America. Trees can be impacted by Phytophthora, crown gall, nematodes, and cherry leaf roll virus; nuts can be severely damaged by codling moth and Xanthomonas blight. The long-generation time of walnuts and an absence of identified natural resistance for most of these problems suggest biotechnological approaches to crop improvement.
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