[英语阅读]澳大利亚研制出长久保鲜苹果

Apple that stays fresh for months developed by Australian scientists

澳大利亚昆士兰州政府的有关专家在过去20年的研究基础上于近日研制出了一个能够保鲜数月、并且还能防虫害的苹果品种，该品种有望于明年上市销售。据研究专家介绍，代号为RS103-130的这个苹果品种置于果盘中可以“保脆”14天；如果放进冰箱保存的话，则可以“保鲜数月”。此外，该品种还具有防虫害的特质，是目前唯一一种可以抵抗苹果黑星病的品种。仅澳大利亚的苹果行业每年用于防治苹果黑星病的资金就超过1000万美元，因此，这样的品种肯定会受到果农的热烈欢迎。

Apples may be among our favourite fruits, but they rarely stay crispy for long enough.

An apple that stays fresh for months has been developed by Australian scientists and could be on shop shelves by next year.

Researchers have spent the last 20 years developing the fruit, which they have now dubbed "the world's best apple."

The apple – at this stage known as RS103-130 – stays "crispy" for 14 days in a fruit bowl, but if kept in a fridge will remain fresh for "months on end".

Its longevity is also obtained without genetic modification – its disease-resistant properties come from a gene found in the Asiatic apple malus floribunda.

The apple has been created by Queensland government experts in Australia.

Tim Mulherin, Primary Industries Minister, said the state government was looking for a commercial supply partner to put the new apple on the market as early as next year.

"The beauty of this fruit is that you can buy it and stick it in a fruit bowl and it will maintain its firmness, texture and crispness for up to 14 days," he said.

"Another advantage is that if it goes into longer term storage, it will retain its freshness for months on end.

"This new variety is sweet. It ticks the other boxes too because it is disease resistant, so requires few or no fungicides.

"Initial taste tests have been outstanding. Out of the five apple types tasted, the new variety scored the highest – even better than the Pink Lady which is very popular in Britain."

Scientist Dr Simon Middleton has been working with apples at the Applethorpe Research Station since 1980 and said he was impressed by RS103-130.

"This variety is unique in that it is naturally resistant to apple scab, also called black spot, a disease that costs the apple industry £6m (more than $10m) a year in Australia alone," he said.

"There is a huge demand from growers to find a disease-resistant variety that requires few or no fungicides."