Lost Apple Tree Rewrites American History | Science News

A lost apple tree on Verona Island in Maine has been uncovered as a hidden ancestor to hundreds of modern American apples, rewriting the fruit’s genetic history. Genetic testing revealed it matches a long-missing lineage — a French variety called Drap d’Or de Bretagne — once cultivated by early colonists and now critical for breeding disease-resistant, climate-hardy apples. Scientists have found two more genetically identical trees, confirming its widespread legacy. This discovery underscores the urgent need to preserve ancient varieties as climate threats loom — each forgotten tree may hold the key to saving our food supply. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-apple-detectives-solved-the-mystery-of-an-ancient-tree-and-rewrote-the-history-of-fruit/ More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/b913db03b7d67ba1 Report issues to [email protected].