Edible Plants of the World

Apple

Apple

It is a temperate plant. It is grown at altitude in the tropics. In the tropics a short growth cycle requires mild temperatures throughout the year. This is found near the equator at altitudes of 800-1200 m where temperatures are 16-27°C. A rainfall of 1600-3200 mm and a relative humidity of 75-85%. The growing season should have good sunlight while the off season should be overcaste and cool. Most apple varieties require 1,000 hours of chilling at temperatures below 7°C during the dormant season. In the Himalayas this occurs between 1,400-2,800 m altitude. Low chilling varieties occur. It suits hardiness zones 3-9.

Also known as:

Amra, Ao zhou, Apel, Apfelbaum, Appel, Appoen, Buah apel, Koduounapuu, Mansanas, Manzana, Manzano, Melo, Ounapuu, Parisounapuu, Pom, Pommelier, Pommier, Saib, Seb, Syau, Yabloko

Synonyms

Edible Portion

Where does Apple grow?

Found in: Africa, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Brazil, Britain, Cameroon, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, China, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, East Africa, East Timor, Estonia, Ethiopia, Europe, Falklands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hawaii, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malawi, Mediterranean, Mexico, Moldova, Nepal, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Serbia, Sikkim, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, United States, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are about 35 Malus species and very many cultivated varieties. The apple is a hybrid probably of Malus sylvestris, Malus dasyphylla and Malus pumila.

Growing Apple

Cultivation: Plats are grown by seed and by grafting. In the tropics the plants are almost evergreen with little shoot growth and flowers and fruiting can occur throughout the year. To produce consistent fruiting, branches and bent horizontal and tied down. Sometimes leaves are picked off. The importance or cross pollination is less important in the tropics. Apples are normally produce by budding using shoots of good clones. In Indonesia a root stock from wild apple is produced by root suckers or air layering. The dormancy of seeds is broken by putting them in a freezer for 30-150 days.

Edible Uses: The fruit are eaten fresh. They are also cooked and used to make juice. The fruit can be sliced and dried. Caution: Apples seeds contain amygdalin a cyanogenic glucoside.

Production: The fruit ripen 3.5-5 months after flowering. In the tropics flower buds can greatly exceed leaf buds so trees can produce more fruit than the leaves can support. Fruit thinning is then necessary.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part Energy (kcal) Protein (g) Iron (mg) Vitamin A (ug) Vitamin c (mg) Zinc (mg) % Water
Fruit 56 0.3 - - 10 - 85

Apple Photos

Apple Apple Apple Apple Apple Apple

References

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