Plant regeneration and transformation in the Rosaceae

The plant family Rosaceae consists of over 100 genera and 3,000 species that include many important fruit, nut, ornamental, and lumber crops. Members of this family provide high-value nutritional foods and contribute desirable aesthetic and industrial products. A complete annotated genome sequence is expected momentarily for apple, and in the near future for peach and strawberry. These sequences will accelerate the next wave of research exploring and comparing the form and function of the many genomes that define the striking differences in morphology and physiology among the Rosaceae, e.g., a herbaceous plant vs. a tree, or a fleshy rather than a dehiscent fruit. Among the many dividends of this research will be the development of superior products for consumers, a better understanding of the genetic elements that contribute to horticultural traits of interest, and an enhanced vision of Rosaceae evolution. It will also answer some of the fundamental questions of plant biology, particularly around the regulation of plant architecture, which may be best answered by species within this family. This review serves as a synopsis of the genetic engineering resources available to study the function and production of new Rosaceae varieties of benefit to the consumer.