They wanted to breed the perfect citrus fruit: bigger, better and sweeter than any that had come before it.
Almost a decade later, Chunxian Chen and Frederick Gmitter Jr., researchers at the UF Citrus Research and Education Center, developed a new strain of grapefruit that is more appealing in both look and chemical composition.
“The flesh is a very nice red, and it really smells like a grapefruit,” Gmitter said, “but it’s sweeter, less sour and has very, very low levels of the chemical that causes ‘grapefruit effect.’”
The grapefruit effect is an adverse interaction between chemicals in common medications, including those for high blood pressure, antidepressants and birth control, and furanocoumarin, a chemical found in grapefruit.
Chen, a UF citrus geneticist, said that the chemical interaction causes high concentrations of the medicine to stay in patients’ bloodstreams.
Gmitter said if they eat grapefruit, people taking these medications are “risking the likelihood of having dangerous side effects.”
The reality of the grapefruit effect is hard to swallow for many patients who once enjoyed the fruit.
The researchers said their newly discovered grapefruit strain, UF 914, is a safe alternative for people taking such medications because the strain contains low levels of the chemical.
The development of UF 914 is also good news for students with an aversion to the commonly sour fruit.
Gator Citrus Club president Katie Rogers, a 21-year-old horticultural science junior, said in the club’s past citrus sales, “We always sell about half as many grapefruits as oranges.”
But the availability of the new strain may cause some to change their minds about grapefruit.
“I’d definitely buy [UF 914] to try it out,” said Matias Gonzalez, a 24-year-old UF alumnus. “If it tastes sweeter, then I can substitute grapefruit for other less-healthy snacks.”
Gmitter and Chen said their next step is conducting human clinical trials to confirm the strain is safe before it reaches stores.
“The biggest challenge is ahead of us right now,” Gmitter said.
