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University of Florida horticulture scientist Manjul Dutt is hoping to turn your next margarita on its head by making it a lovely lavender instead of passé pale green.
Dutt and Jude Grosser from the UF Citrus Research and Education Center are developing genetically engineered limes containing some similar genetic factors that are expressed in grape skin and blood orange pulp. These modified Mexican limes have a protein that induces anthocyanin biosynthesis, the process that creates the “red” in red wine, and causes the limes to develop a range of colors in the pulp from dark purple to fuchsia.
“Anthocyanins are beneficial bioflavonoids that have numerous roles in human well-being,” Dutt explained. “Numerous pharmacological studies have implicated their intake to the prevention of a number of human health issues, such as obesity and diabetes.”
Anthocyanins also naturally occur in a variety of oranges called blood oranges, which has a red to maroon colored flesh and, some say, a better taste than Florida’s “blond” oranges. . .
These new limes were developed using genes isolated from the red grape “Ruby Seedless” and the Blood Orange “Moro.” Research on the utilization of these genes was conducted initially to develop a more consumer-friendly, alternative, plant-derived, system. They are the first step toward Florida farmers producing blood oranges and, possibly, a new grapefruit cultivar. . .
Dutt and Grosser’s study is being published in the January edition of the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science.
Read full, original post: Purple limes, blood oranges could be next for Florida citrus
