Apple!

The apple is one of our most beloved fruits. Apple research at SLU touches on several important issues for society. Explore the apple from multiple perspectives.

Sniffing out fruit tree canker

Diminished crops and lowered fruit quality are some of the effects of Fruit tree canker, the single most destructive disease plaguing Swedish apple orchards. In order to trace the disease early and stop it from taking root, specially trained search dogs are being employed to prevent import of infected cultivars from abroad

A dog is sniffing on a sample of fruit tree canker

Mapping Ukrainian heritage varieties

Following insistent detective work, researchers have been able to extensively map out the family trees connecting many varieties of Swedish apples. This research is now being used to preserve domestic heritage varieties in war-torn Ukraine.

Cider’s coming of age

Sweden possesses a bounty of apples, and the fruit is a beloved staple in the production of both food and drink. One apple product has long since been absent from the Swedish market however: the classic cider.

Relocating plant breeding

After a long history of fruit and berry plant breeding at Balsgård, a relocation to Campus Alnarp is now underway. Selected plant material is being propagated and moved for continued use in variety development, plant breeding research, and education.

Studies on minimizing apple waste

Large quantities of apples from both private gardens and industrial production are discarded as waste. By adapting storage methods and by optimising the time of harvest however, the amount of waste could be reduced.

A box of class 2 apples, which vary in size and have cosmetic defects.

Published: 02 April 2024 - Page editor: forskningskommunikationLTV@slu.se

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