Apple, Fruit
Apple is the fruit of the apple tree, Malus domestica, in the rose family Rosaceae. Apple tree is native to western Asia. It is the most popular and widely grown species in genus Malus. Apple tree is a small and deciduous tree, growing 3-12 m tall, with a broad and dense twiggy crown. The leaves are alternate, simple, oval shaped with serrated margin with an acute tip, 5-12 cm long and 3-6 cm wide, and a 2-5 cm long petiole. The five-petaled flowers are white with a pink tinge, 2.5-3.5 cm in diameter. Apple is a pome fruit, with the center of the fruit contains five carpels arranged in a five-point star. Each carpel contains 1-3 seeds. There are over 7500 known cultivars of apple, suitable for temperate and subtropical climates. Most cultivars are grown for eating fresh (dessert apples), for cooking (cooking apples) or producing cider. Cider apples are not suitable for eating fresh as they are too tart and astringent, but they give the beverage a rich flavor. Colorful skin, absence of russeting, ease of shipping, lengthy storage ability, high yields, disease resistance are the desired qualities for modern commercial apple breeding. Apples must cross-pollinate to develop fruit, as they are self-incompatible. During flowering season, apple growers usually provide pollinators such as honey bees, orchard mason bees and bumblebee queens to carry the pollen. Apart from eating fresh, apples can be canned or juiced. Apples are milled and filtered for apple juice to produce apple cider, a non-alcoholic and sweet cider. The juice can be fermented to make cider (an alcoholic and hard cider), ciderkin, and vinegar. Applejack, Calvados, and apfelwein and various other alcoholic beverages can be produced through distillation. Apples are a major ingredient for making desserts, such as apple pie, apple crumble, apple crisp and apple cake. They can be eaten baked, stewed, dried or reconstituted in water, alcohol, or other liquid for later use. Apples are high in antioxidant compounds, but low in vitamin C. The fiber content in apples helps regulate bowel movements and may thus reduce the risk of colon cancer. Apples also helps with heart disease, weight loss, and controlling cholesterol. Apple trees are susceptible to mildew, aphids, apple scab, fireblight, Gymnosporangium rust, and black spot.  Apple fruits of Sampion cultivar in orchard Author: Glysiak (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic) | ||
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