Hello, I have been looking for information regarding the declining use of the genetic diversity in the heirloom apples. Based on the work by Dr D. A. Noiton the majority of apple cultivars are at least partial derived from 5 cultivars. I am wondering what factors led to this to situation. Does anyone around know of any papers on this subject? I have been having trouble finding such information.
Though it is not my area of exoertise, but i feel that dominant use of well defined commenrcial rootstocks ( Malling- Merton series ) have somewhere to blame for such genetic loss of diversity . The same story is replicated in many other tropical and subtropical fruit crops , where rootstock intervention is mandatory for higher quality rooduction compared to those trdaitional areas where rootstocks are not so popular and fruits are still raised on seedlings.
Thank you Brandon Singh for this important question about the causes of decline of apple diversity.
In a 2010 report, the FAO estimated that three quarters of crop diversity had been lost between 1900 and 2000, stressing that "the genetic diversity of the plants we grow and consume - and related wild species - could be lost forever, thus compromising future food security ”.
In the specific case of apple and according to Kathrin Strohm (2013), of the 30,000 apple varieties found all over the world only 30 are used and traded commercially. The original apple, from which all those we know today are descended, were found in the Tian Shan Mountains of Kazakhstan. This wild fruit is the origin of all our apple varieties.
In the case of United States, it is clear that the biodiversity of apples has declined since the rise of industrial agriculture confirmed Rossi Anastropoulo (2014). I think this is also the case elsewhere. Like any commercial industry, the focus in apple production remained fixed on profit, added Rossi Anastropoulo. Therefore, in order to increase their crop yields, apple growers began to emphasize traits that would produce a good harvest and make transportation more feasible. These traits include disease resistance, hardiness, and durability, and the high importance placed on these characteristics slowly began to replace any focus on taste. The apple industry did not focus on selling apples that would taste best or even function well in the kitchen, but instead focused on varieties that would make the most money in the marketplace, indicated Anastropoulo (2014).
The same author mentionned that the apples have unique genetic codes, and once they have disappeared, they are gone forever, if not saved by apple detectives.
Despite the fact thant apple is the favorite fruit of Europeans, the number of commercial varieties collapsed in the 20th century. According to Kathrin Strohm (2013), only 13 apple varieties covered nearly 72 % of the entire European apple acreage in 2007.
In the special case of France, several causes mean that the diversity of apples has decreased. For example, it is said that "all misshapen, dull or stained apples are prohibited for sale". Thus, according to a president of a French association working to save local apples, France imports apples, beautiful and colorful, ruling out a large available local panel, not falling within these standards.
On the other hand, and still in the case of France, it is said that even if local varieties of apples appeal to consumers, tree growers are hardly interested in these old varieties. They want to tonnage, with apples sized, trees planted tightly, treated, suitable for irrigation, chemical thinning, conservation, and which produce every year.
These links could help you to take some informations that you need. Good luck.
https://pitjournal.unc.edu/article/where-have-all-apples-gone-investigation-disappearance-apple-varieties-and-detectives-who
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160523-kazakhstans-treasure-trove-of-wildly-flavoured-apples
http://www.agribenchmark.org/agri-benchmark/did-you-know/einzelansicht/artikel//only-5500-wi.html
https://www.bfmtv.com/meteo/des-milliers-de-varietes-de-pommes-en-voie-de-disparition_AN-201906190059.html
https://www.lemonde.fr/biodiversite/visuel/2016/11/16/derniere-chance-pour-la-biodiversite-6-6-les-pommes-d-antan_5032123_1652692.html
https://www.grainesdevie.net/aux-origines-de-la-pomme/
Thank you all for your contributions this will work well on for my future work.
Dear Brandon Singh Faraed Salman Terri Purvis
Bushra Mahmood Alwan Hafida Rahal-BouzianeI would like to encourage you to read my recent article in this regard:
Article Influence of cultivar and fertilization treatment on the yie...
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