North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Joe and Ellen Hecksel <jhecksel@voyager.net>]

Hi Rob
> This may seem a basic question for you apple experts
> out there.


I am not an expert but I will give it a whack


> What actually is a Crabapple and how is it different
> from the apples we eat? 


Crabapples are species and hybrids of the genus Malus that are less than 
2" (that is 50mm in Canada) in diameter.  There is a little bit of 
flexibility in the diameter, but 2" is a commonly excepted as the 
dividing line.


> I originally thought they were just ornaments, but I
> have eaten a crabapple that is just a little smaller
> than a granny smith and was sweet.


That is a BIG crab apple.


> Is it a different species?  


It is not a species thing, it is a fruit size thing.  However, most 
crabapples are selected for showy displays of flowers.  Many flowers 
usually means many fruit.  Many fruit means small fruit.  Also, since 
fruit flavor is usually not a selection criterion, many ornamental crabs 
taste downright nasty.  The good tasting ornamental crabs are lucky 
accidents.


> Do they breed with edible apples?


You bet.


> Is there some trait about Crabapples that are
> desirable for a breeder?


Yes.  Domestic apples have a very narrow genetic base.  Picture a one 
legged stool.  Intrinsically unstable.

Extreme hardiness:
Malus baccata, M X robusta
Assorted scab resistance genes:
M floribunda, robusta, micromalus, Geneva crab (cannot spell the species 
from memory)

Some down-sides:
Many are extremely sensitive to virus (the sensitive domestic were 
purged from the gene pool)
Many are poor at assimilating calcium from the ground.
Graft incompatabilities can be an issue.


> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now
> http://companion.yahoo.com/
> _______________________________________________
> nafex mailing list 
> nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
>
> To unsubscribe, go to the bottom of this page (also can be used to change 
> other email options):
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/nafex
>
> File attachments are NOT stripped by this list
> TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COMPUTER VIRUSES!
> Please do not send binary files.
> Use plain text ONLY in emails!
>
> Message archives are here:
> https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/nafex
>
> NAFEX web site:   http://www.nafex.org/


--
-Joe Hecksel
My personal website: http://my.voyager.net/~jhecksel