
The
apple is the
pomaceous fruit of the apple
tree, species
Malus domestica in the rose
family (
Rosaceae). It is one of the most widely
cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of
genus Malus that are used by humans. Apples grow on small,
deciduous trees. 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 been present in the mythology and religions of many cultures, including
Norse,
Greek and Christian traditions. In 2010, the fruit's
genome was decoded, leading to new understandings of disease control and selective breeding in apple production.
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 uses, including
cooking, fresh eating and
cider production. Domestic apples are generally propagated by
grafting, although wild apples grow readily from seed. Trees are prone to a number of
fungal,
bacterial and pest problems, which can be controlled by a number of
organic and non-organic means.
About 69 million tonnes of apples were grown worldwide in 2010, and China produced almost half of this total. The United States is the second-leading producer, with more than 6% of world production. Turkey is third, followed by Italy, India and Poland. Apples are often eaten raw, but can also be found in many prepared foods (especially desserts) and drinks. Many beneficial health effects are thought to result from eating apples; however, two forms of allergies are seen to various proteins found in the fruit.