India, July 18 -- The ghosts of who our fruits and vegetables once were still hover in our midst. in the carvings on Egyptian tombs, in Ancient Roman frescoes, and in art works dating to centuries ago.

Here, peaches are green; carrots are small, slim and yellow; and the watermelon has white flesh.

Over thousands of years, humans have hybridised plants to make them easier to digest, more nutritious, higher in sugars and carbs, or simply better-tasting.

Some would become so integral, they would travel the world. Key among these was the apple. It was eaten so widely, on trade routes criss-crossing Central Asia (where it has its roots), its core then tossed to the side to take root where it could, that the genetic material of the average a...