Apple

An apple is an edible fruit produced by an apple tree (Malus domestica). Apple trees are cultivated worldwide and are the most widely grown species in the genus Malus. The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor, Malus sieversii, is still found today. Apples have been grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe and were brought to North America by European colonists. Apples have religious and mythological significance in many cultures, including Norse, Greek, and European Christian tradition.

AppleFruit of the Honeycrisp cultivarFlowersScientific classificationKingdom:PlantaeClade:TracheophytesClade:AngiospermsClade:EudicotsClade:RosidsOrder:RosalesFamily:RosaceaeGenus:MalusSpecies:M. domesticaBinomial nameMalus domestica
Borkh., 1803Synonyms[1][2]

• Malus communis Desf.

• Malus pumila Mil.

• M. frutescens Medik.

• M. paradisiaca (L.) Medikus

• M. sylvestris Mil.

• Pyrus malus L.

• Pyrus malus var. paradisiaca L.

• Pyrus dioica Moench

Apple trees are large if grown from seed. Generally, apple cultivars are propagated by grafting onto rootstocks, which control the size of the resulting tree. There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples, resulting in a range of desired characteristics. Different cultivars are bred for various tastes and use, including cooking, eating raw and cider production. Trees and fruit are prone to a number of fungal, bacterial and pest problems, which can be controlled by a number of organic and non-organic means. In 2010, the fruit's genome was sequenced as part of research on disease control and selective breeding in apple production.

Worldwide production of apples in 2018 was 86 million tonnes, with China accounting for nearly half of the total.[3]

Etymology

Description

History

Society and culture

Cultivars

Cultivation

Production

Nutrition

Uses

See also

References

Further reading

External links