[21] The apple is thought to have been domesticated 4000–10000 years ago in the Tian Shan mountains, and then to have travelled along the Silk Road to Europe, with hybridization and introgression of wild crabapples from Siberia (M. baccata), the Caucasus (M. orientalis), and Europe (M. sylvestris). [20], Malus sieversii is recognized as a major progenitor species to the cultivated apple, and is morphologically similar. Unexpectedly, a few of the fruit trees in our Ken Spencer Science Park have been bearing fruit! I’m in love! Apples are milled or pressed to produce apple juice, which may be drunk unfiltered (called apple cider in North America), or filtered. Davidson concludes that in the figure of Iðunn "we must have a dim reflection of an old symbol: that of the guardian goddess of the life-giving fruit of the other world. Generally, you can expect to start snacking in 2 to 5 years. Some consumers, especially those in Japan, prefer a larger apple, while apples below 5.5 cm (2 1⁄4 in) are generally used for making juice and have little fresh market value. [86], Preliminary research is investigating whether apple consumption may affect the risk of some types of cancer. Many customers would like to buy a 5-year old mature fruit tree that would be guaranteed to fruit the following summer. The variety of apple, maturity and storage conditions can change the amount of allergen present in individual fruits. [5], Until the 20th century, farmers stored apples in frostproof cellars during the winter for their own use or for sale. Depending on tree density (number of trees planted per unit surface area), mature trees typically bear 40–200 kg (90–440 lb) of apples each year, though productivity can be close to zero in poor years. 9, G11, G16. This tends to be a quality in modern commercial apple varieties, since the earlier the tree starts bearing the earlier the owner starts to get a return on his investment. [61], Apple skins and seeds contain various phytochemicals, particularly polyphenols which are under preliminary research for their potential health effects. Trees on semidwarf rootstocks generally begin to produce fruit four years after planting and continue to bear for 25 years. The more vigorous rootstocks such as MM111, Bud.118, and M25 produce much larger trees, so it is perhaps not surprising that they take longer to come into bearing - they need time to reach their full size. As a result, in the story of Adam and Eve, the apple became a symbol for knowledge, immortality, temptation, the fall of man into sin, and sin itself. Also, apple trees from seed take longer to produce fruit. Improved transportation of fresh apples by train and road replaced the necessity for storage. Cooking does not break down the protein causing this particular reaction, so affected individuals cannot eat raw or cooked apples. The quality of tree care and environmental conditions can significantly influence apple production. This doesn’t mean you can’t grow an apple … That means you end up with trees around 2-4m tall, instead of the usual 6-8m. An apple is an edible fruit produced by an apple tree (Malus domestica). [24] It is generally also hard to distinguish in the archeological record between foraged wild apples and apple plantations. The fruit matures in late summer or autumn, and cultivars exist in a wide range of sizes. [36], Though the forbidden fruit of Eden in the Book of Genesis is not identified, popular Christian tradition has held that it was an apple that Eve coaxed Adam to share with her. Apples are also made into apple butter and apple jelly. It may take several hours before the poison takes effect, as cyanogenic glycosides must be hydrolyzed before the cyanide ion is released. Each species - apple, pear, plum, cherry - has a picking season and within the season varieties are typically grouped into "early", "mid-season", and "late". Triploidcultivars have an addition… Bigger bounties of fruit result from having more than one tree, no matter the type of tree. Do Crabapple Trees Produce Fruit? Peach and nectarine trees produce fruit only on growth from the previous season so they need a great deal of pruning. This technique works particularly well with apple trees. The fruit is ready when it’s no longer green and hard, but the ripe color will vary depending on the variety – and some varieties assume their mature color before they’re ripe. As late as the 17th century, the word also functioned as a generic term for all fruit other than berries but including nuts—such as the 14th century Middle English word appel of paradis, meaning a banana.