The Apple

1
The Apple
Biology 119 Summer 09

• Erica Schmeichel, Keith Isbell,
• and Darin McClurg

2
Apple Facts Trivia

• Apples are part of the Rose Family (Rosaceae), a
  family that also contains strawberries, oranges,
  plums, and of course roses. (Kornfeld, 1997)
• Top apple-growing states include Washington, New
  York, Michigan, California, Pennsylvania and
  Virginia.
• Most apples today cannot be grown from seeds
  they require human intervention in order to
  spread by processes such as grafting or budding.
  (Mott's, 2009)

(Isbell, 2009)
3
Apple Fruit Timeline

• Summer
• During summer months, fertilized apple blossoms
  grow into apple fruits
• The flower receptacle swells and envelops all the
  other flower parts, becoming the sweet flesh of
  the fruit

• Spring
• Apple trees begin to grow again after their
  period of winter dormancy
• Trees produce leaves and flowers
• Bees pollinate the flowers

• Fall
• Apples have grown large and will either fall to
  the ground or be collected by humans or other
  animals to be eaten, processed, or stored

• Winter
• Apple trees lose their leaves and enter the
  dormant state
• Properly stored apple fruits remain a viable food
  source throughout the winter

(Motts, 2009)
4
Apple Anatomy

• Apple fruits grow from pollinated flowers
• Majority of fleshy tissue comes from enlarged
  receptacle or hypanthium, the part of the flower
  to which all other parts attach (Esau, 1977)
• Shriveled remains of flower parts form calyx at
  the bottom of the apple fruit

(Isbell, 2009)
5
History of the Apple

• Apple origins are in Kazakhstan
• The Silk Road passed through
• and seeds, trees, and fruit may have been
  picked up by travellers 10,000 years ago.
• Malus sieversii, or Malus pumila, forests still
  produce a variety of different fruits.
• (Juniper Mabberley 2006)

• (Nabhan)

6
History Cont'd

• Romans brought knowledge of grafting to the rest
  of Europe.
• Colonizers and traders in Europe took apples on
  ships to prevent scurvy.
• Apple seeds brought to the New World (Juniper
  Mabberley).

Grateful Farm
7
History Cont'd

• Apples diversified in the colonies.
• Johnny Appleseed
• It is wicked to cut up trees in that way. The
  correct method is to select good seeds and plant
  them in good ground and only God can improve the
  apple (Pollan).
• Most apples in the early settlements were drunk,
  but edible strains emerged (Lape).

The Field Guide
8
History Contd

• In 1810, 198,000 barrels of apple cider were
  made alone (Juniper Mabberley, 171).
• Prohibition almost meant the end of apples as a
  crop, but refrigeration allowed apples to be
  commercially sold without the guilt.
• Today, the apple is successful, however very few
  varieties are used.
• (Pollan
  2001)

9
Apple consumption

• Drinks
• -juice
• -cider
• -apple jack
• -wine
• Food
• -can be baked, stewed, dried, or eaten straight
  off the tree
• Desserts
• -used in apple pies, cakes, crisps, sauces, and
  jellies

(Wordpress)
((Langers)
(Recipe tips)
(Apple Holler)
10
Apples and Pesticide

• -Apples require more pesticide than any other
  food crop
• -Due to the cloning of the same types of apples,
  they have become less fit as a plant
• -In the wild, plants and their pests evolve
  together
• -In an orchard of grafted trees, coevolution
  stops
• -Because these apples do not reproduce sexually,
  they dont create new genetic combinations
• -Humans must come to the apples aid, to fight
  off pests
• (Pollan 2001)

Apples dont look this good all by themselves,
they need help.
(Wikivisual)
11
Pesticide Problems
A man wears protective gear while handling
pesticides.

• -Insects become resistant
• -Pesticides can kill off beneficial insects
• -Dangerous for the environment and people
• -Expensive, estimated to cost the U.S. at least
  8 billion a year
• (The Pesticide Problem)

12
Picture citations

• Apple Holler. Retrieved July 13, 2009, from
  http//www.appleholler.com/caramel-apple.html
• Grateful Farm. Retrieved July 13, 2009, from
  http//www.webpagesitehosting.com/gratefulfarm/Pho
  toGallery20Pages/DCP_1967.JPG
• Isbell, Keith. Apple Long Cross Section. July 14,
  2009.
• Langers. Retreived July 12, 2009, from
  http//www.langers.com/Products/Applesauce/33_Appl
  eSauce_.jpg
• Nabhan, G. P. (2008) The Fatherland of Apples.
  Retrieved July 13, 2009, from http//www.orionmaga
  zine.org/index.php/articles/article/2961/
• Recipe Tips. Retrieved July 12, 2009, from
  http//www.recipetips.com/images/recipe/beverages/
  apple_cider_spiced.jpg
• Takefive5. (2009, May 26). Wordpress. Retrieved
  July 13, 2009, from http//takefive5.wordpress.com
  /
• The Field Guide. Retreived July 12, 2009, from
  http//fieldguide.hollandhopson.com/category/brewi
  ng/
• The Pesticide Problem. Organic Gardening Guru.
  (2006). Retrieved July 13, 2009, from
  http//www.organicgardeningguru.com/pesticides.htm
  l
• Wikivisual. (2006). Retrieved July 13, 2009, from
  http//en.wikivisual.com/index.php/Jonagold

13
Works Cited

• Apple Growing Timelines by Season Mott's Apples
  Health. http//www.motts.com/ApplesAndHealth/Abo
  utApples/Growing.aspx. Accessed July 14, 2009.
• Esau, K. 1977. Anatomy of seed plants. John Wiley
  and Sons, New York.
• Facts About Apples Mott's Apples Health.
  http//www.motts.com/ApplesAndHealth/AboutApples/F
  acts.aspx. Accessed July 14, 2009.
• Juniper, B.E., Mabberley, D.J. (2006). The
  Story of the Apple. Portland Timberpress, 183.
• Kornfeld, A. Natural Perspective Dicots (Class
  Dicotyledoneae). 21 July 1997. http//www.perspect
  ive.com/nature/plantae/dicots.html Accessed July
  14, 2009.
• Lape, F. (1979). Apples and Man. Ontario Litton,
  145.
• The Pesticide Problem. Organic Gardening Guru.
  (2006). Retrieved July 13, 2009, from
  http//www.organicgardeningguru.com/pesticides.htm
  l
• Pollan, M. (2001). The Botany of Desire. New
  York Random House, 245.