The Forgotten Apple: Saving Malus Sieversii

Apples are loved globally, but did you know that most of the apples we eat today come from just a few types? This makes our apple supply very vulnerable to bad weather, pests, and diseases. Wild apples are a great way to bring in helpful traits to make our apples stronger, but they're hard to breed with because they have small fruits. One wild apple, called Malus Sieversii, is a close relative of our domesticated apples and has a lot of useful qualities. It's sadly in danger of disappearing in its native Central Asia. If we don't protect these wild apple forests, we could lose an important resource for making our apples healthier and harder to damage. It's like having a secret recipe for Super Apples, but we might lose it if we don't take care of where it came from. There's also a lack of understanding about the full range of problems and opportunities Malus Sieversii presents, which is a challenge in using it to its full potential. Let's dive into why preserving this wild apple is so important and what we can do about it.