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ENCORE: Exploring Citrus Genealogy

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Orange Tree

A global group of scientists has traced the evolutionary history of Florida’s signature crop up to 8 million years into the past to the Himalayas of Southeast Asia. Through analyses of 60 types of citrus whose genomes they sequenced, scientists identified 10 natural citrus species, according to their new study, just published in the journal Nature. We’re joined by a University of Florida professor who co-authored the study, Fred Gmitter, to learn more about the implications of this research.