Apple
The
apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree,
Malus domestica of the rose family. 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 deciduous trees which are large if grown from seed, but small if grafted onto roots. 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 as part of research on 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.