The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree,species Malus domestica in the rose family (Rosaceae)

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, leading to new understandings of disease control and selective breeding in apple production. The apple plantations are raised on seeding rootstocks.

Apple is the fourth most economically important fruit crop worldwide, accounting for $395 million of New Zealand’s export income.

The sequencing of the genome will assist scientists in identifying the genetic controls of characteristics that consumers desire in new varieties of apples, such as texture, taste and colour.

Genetic markers developed from these key genes will be used to screen thousands of apple seedlings in conventional breeding programmes to pre-select those with the right combination of traits for commercial success.

Analysis of the complete DNA sequence of apple suggests that a major step in evolution of the fruit was caused by a catastrophic environmental event, possibly the same one that killed the dinosaurs.

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