'Orange blood' will flood the world

British scientists claim that blood oranges, red and orange-colored oranges, will appear in many parts of the planet through genetic modification.

Most oranges on the earth have orange cloves. Orange peels are only red if they contain anthocyanin , a natural organic compound capable of coloring. Anthocyanins have many biological activities that are useful for humans - such as reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease. It also helps the body fight cancer, ultraviolet rays and inflammation.

Anthocyanins exist in many flowers and fruits, but are not common in orange. Orange varieties contain anthocyanin - there are red shrimps so often called 'blood oranges' - only developed in areas with short winters. Only one area in Italy meets this condition. So people in that area grow blood orange on an industrial scale and sell at very high prices.

The presence of anthocyanins in some oranges causes their shrimps to be bright red.

Now Professor Cathie Martin, a researcher of the John Innes Center in the UK, and colleagues have found a gene that controls the orange anthocyanin production process. They acted on the gene to produce orange plants with anthocyanin without cold weather, Telegraph reported.

The team then transplanted the gene into the seeds of some popular orange varieties in the Valencia region of Italy. The first fruits from genetically modified orange trees will be born before the end of this year.

'We hope that in the future, blood orange will appear in important orange growing areas of the world, like Brazil or Florida in the US. Thus, they will become a popular fruit on the planet and many people will have the opportunity to enjoy the health benefits that blood oranges bring , 'Professor Martin said.

The team claims, when blood oranges are grown everywhere, their prices will fall several times compared to current prices.