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Malus sylvestris

Authority
Family	Magnoliopsida:Rosidae:Rosales:Rosaceae
Synonyms	Malus communis Poiret. ssp. sylvestris (Mill.) Gams
Common names	crab apple, crabapple, maca-brava, maguilho, wild apple, wild crab
Editor
Ecocrop code	1410

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION A small deciduous tree often trained to a central lead or a delayed open center form reaching a height of 3-6 m. USES The fruit can be eaten fresh, or used to make cider, soft drinks, juice, and vinegars. Pectine is a valuable by-product of cider. The wood is hard and strong and used for quality tool handles and firewood. KILLING T The tree may tolerate -26 to -37.5°C in the winter when fully dormant and -4 to -8°C in late spring, while fruits will be damaged by -2 to -4°C. GROWING PERIOD Perennial. Begins to fruit in the 3rd year and come into full production from the 11th to 20th year. It may continue to fruit for about 100 years although the fruits may become commercially unprofitable. Growing 180-320 days per year. COMMON NAMES Apple, Pommier, Apel, Mansanas, Appoen, Pom. FURTHER INF Scientific synonym, M. pumila, M. domestica. In the tropics apple does not do well below 1200 m in elevation and should preferably be grown above 1400 m, depending on variety. It requires a period of winter dormancy, in general 900-1000 hours or more at less than 7°C, but low chilling varieties only needs 200-300 hours below 7.5°C. It perform best in areas with medium to low humidity, with long daylight hours, high light intensity and relatively warm days and cool nights. Apples are susceptible to root lesion nematodes.
Sources
SOURCES (M. sylvestris Mill.) Sims D (pers. comm.) Dube P 1982 pp 20 Roecklein J 1987 pp 196 [USE] Teaci D Duke J 1979 pp 100 Hartmann T 1981 pp 590-591 [KTMP, PHO, LIG, TEMP, LIMIT] Hackett C 1982 pp 142 [FER, PHO, DEP, PH, TEXT, TEMP] Teskey B 1978 pp 1 Van Waveren E 1993 pp 51 Singh R 1969 pp 152-160 [DRA, TEXT, DEP, PH, USE] Hockings E 1961b pp 105-127 [TEMP, KTMP, TEXT, DRA, DEP, PH, RAIN]