Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Temperate Tree Fruits of North America: Malus Mill., Prunus L., Diospyros L., and Asimina Adans

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
North American Crop Wild Relatives, Volume 2

Abstract

North America has four native temperate tree fruit genera that have played key cultural roles due to their edible fruit and medicinal uses and have also been valuable as hardwood: Malus Mill. (apple), Prunus L. (cherry, plum, peach, etc.), Diospyros L. (persimmon), and Asimina Adans. (pawpaw). Some native North American species of these tree fruit genera also exhibit traits that are desirable for plant breeding targets. This chapter provides summary information about the geographic distribution, phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships, and conservation efforts for North American Malus, Prunus, Diospyros, and Asimina species. North American genebanks maintain vast collections of these genera that are among the largest in the world. Increased representation of North American native tree fruit species within genebanks will ensure global access to key genetic resources for future generations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abrams MD, Nowacki GJ (2008) Native Americans as active and passive promoters of mast and fruit trees in the eastern USA. The Holocene 18(7):1123–1137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Archibold DD, Koslanund R, Pomper KW (2003) Ripening and postharvest storage of pawpaw. HortTechnology 13:439–441

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Badenes ML, Parfitt DE (1995) Phylogenetic relationships of cultivated Prunus species from an analysis of chloroplast DNA variation. Theor Appl Genet 90:1035–1041

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • BCGI (2017) PlantSearch database. https://wwwbgciorg/plant_searchphp. 19 Mar 2017

  • Bellini E, Giordani E (2005) Germplasm and breeding of persimmon in Europe. Acta Hortic 685:65–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Briand CH (2005) The common persimmon (Dispyros virginiana L.): the history of an underutilized fruit tree (16th-19th centuries). Huntia 12(1):71–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Chin S-W, Shaw J, Haberle R, Wen J, Potter D (2014) Diversification of almonds, peaches, plums and cherries – molecular systematics and biogeographic history of Prunus (Rosaceae). Mol Phylogenet Evol 76:34–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickson EE, Kresovich S, Weeden NF (1991) Isozymes in north American Malus (Rosaceae): hybridization and species differentiation. Syst Bot 16(2):363–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Everitt JH (1984) Germination of Texas persimmon seed. J Range Manag 37:189–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flachowsky H, Le Roux P-M, Peil A, Patocchi A, Richter K, Hanke M-V (2011) Application of a high-speed breeding technology to apple (Malus × domestica) based on transgenic early flowering plants and marker-assisted selection. New Phytol 192:364–377

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forsline PL, Towill LE, Waddell JW, Stushnoff C, Lamboy WF, McFerson JR (1998) Recovery and longevity of cryopreserved dormant apple buds. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 123:365–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Genesys (2017) A gateway to genetic resources. https://www.genesys-pgr.org. 19 Mar 2017

  • Hawaiian native plant propagation database (2017) https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hawnprop/. 20 Mar 2017

  • Höfer M (2015) Cryopreservation of winter-dormant apple buds: establishment of a duplicate collection of Malus germplasm. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 121:647–656

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horn CN (2015) A new hybrid of Asimina (Annonaceae) based on morphological and ecological data. Castanea 80(4):262–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hosaka N, Kachi N, Kudoh H, Stuefer JF, Whigham DF (2008) Patch structure and ramet demography of the clonal tree, Asimina triloba, under gap and closed-canopy. Plant Ecol 197:219–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hosaka N, Kachi N, Kudoh H, Stuefer JF, Whigham DF (2016) Compensatory growth of the clonal understory tree, Asimina triloba, in response to small-scale disturbances. Plant Ecol 217:471–480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang H, Layne DR, Riemenschneider (1998) Genetic diversity and geographic differentiation in pawpaw [Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal] populations from nine states as revealed by allozyme analysis. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 123(4):635–641

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IUCN (2017) IUCN Red list for threatened species. http://www.iucnredlist.org/. 17 March 2017

  • Khoury CK, Greene S, Wiersema J, Maxted N, Jarvis A, Struik PC (2013) An inventory of crop wild relatives of the United States. Crop Sci 53:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kron P, Husband BC (2009) Hybridization and the reproductive pathways mediating gene flow between native Malus coronaria and domestica apple, M. domestica. Botany 87:864–874

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuete V, Tangmouo JG, Meyer JJM, Lall N (2009) Diospyrone, crassiflorone, and plumbagin: three antimycobacterial and antigonorrhoeal naphthoquinones from two Diospyros spp. Int J Antimicrob Agents 34:322–325

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kushnarenko S, Salnikov E, Nurtazin M, Mukhitdinova Z, Rakhimbaev I, Reed BM (2010) Characterization and cryopreservation of Malus sieversii seeds. Asian Aust J Plant Sci Biotechnol 4:5–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Roux P-M, Flachowsky H, Hanke M-V, Gassler C, Patocchi A (2012) Use of a transgenic early flowering approach in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) to introgress fire blight resistance from cultivar Evereste. Mol Breed 30:857–874

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee S, Wen J (2001) A phylogenetic analysis of Prunus and the Amygdaloideae (Rosaceae) using ITS sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Am J Bot 88:150–160

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X-L, Wen J, Nie Z-L, Johnson G, Liang Z-S, Chang Z-Y (2013) Polyphyly of the Padus group of Prunus (Rosaceae) and the evolution of biogeographic disjunctions between eastern Asia and eastern North America. J Plant Res 126:351–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lo EYY, Donoghue MJ (2012) Expanded phylogenetic and dating analyses of the apples and their relatives (Pyreae, Rosaceae). Mol Phylogenet Evol 63:230–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mallavadhani UV, Panda AK, Rao YR (1998) Pharmacology and chemotaxonomy of Diospyros. Phytochemistry 49:901–951

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mason SC (1913) The pubescent-fruited species of Prunus of the southwestern states. J Agric Res I:147–178

    Google Scholar 

  • McCage CM, Ward SM, Paling CA, Fisher DA, Flynn PJ, McLaughlin JL (2002) Development of a paw paw herbal shampoo for the removal of head lice. Phytomedicine 9:743–748

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McLaughlin JL (2008) Paw paw and cancer: Annonaceous acetogenins from discovery to commercial products. J Nat Prod 71:1311–1321

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy JL (2001) Pawpaws, persimmons, and ‘possoms: on the natural distribution of pawpaws in the northeast. North Am Archaeol 22(2):93–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NARO (2017) National agriculture and food research organization. https://wwwgeneaffrcgojp/databases_enphp. 20 Mar 2017

  • Parfitt DE, Almehdi AA (1984) Liquid nitrogen storage of pollen from five cultivated Prunus species. Hortscience 19:69–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Pence VC (1991) Cryopreservation of seeds of Ohio native plants and related species. Seed Sci Technol 19:235–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson RN (2003) Pawpaw variety development: a history and future projects. HortTechnology 13:449–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pomper KW, Lowe JD, Crabtree SB, Keller W (2009) Identification of Annonaceous acetogenins in the ripe fruit of the North American pawpaw (Asimina triloba). J Agric Food Chem 57:8339–8343

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pomper KW, Lowe JD, Lu L, Crabtree S, Dutta S, Schneider K, Tidwell J (2010) Characterization and identification of pawpaw cultivars and advanced selections by simple sequence repeat markers. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 135(2):143–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson JP, Harris SA, Juniper BE (2001) Taxonomy of the genus Malus mill. (Rosaceae) with emphasis on the cultivated apple, Malus domestica Borkh. Plant Syst Evol 226:35–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Routson KJ, Volk GM, Richards CM, Smith SE, Nabhan GP, de Echeverria VW (2012) Genetic variation and distribution of Pacific crabapple. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 137:325–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruan X, Yang Y, Wang R, Li G (2009) DNA fingerprinting of persimmon germplasm using simple sequence repeats. Acta Hortic 833:157–162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw J, Small RL (2004) Addressing the “Hardest puzzle in American pomology:” Phylogeny of Prunus sect. Prunocerasus (Rosaceae) based on seven noncoding chloroplast DNA regions. Am J Bot 91:985–996

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw J, Small RL (2005) Chloroplast DNA phylogeny and phylogeography of the North American plums (Prunus subgenus Prunus section Prunocerasus, Rosaceae). Am J Bot 92(12):2011–2030

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SID (2017) Seed information database http://data.kew.org/sid/. 19 Mar 2017

  • Slater MA, Anderson RC (2014) Intensive selection: deer browsing favors success of Asimina triloba (paw paw) a native tree species. Nat Areas J 34:178–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun L, Zhang J, Lu X, Zhang L, Zhang Y (2011) Evaluation to the antioxidant activity of total flavonoids extract from persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) leaves. Food Chem Toxicol 49:2689–2696

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Towill LE, Forsline PL, Walters C, Waddell JW, Laufmann J (2004) Cryopreservation of Malus germplasm using a winter vegetative bud method: results from 1915 accessions. CryoLetters 25:323–334

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turner NC, Bell MAM (1971) The ethnobotany of the coast Salish Indians of Vancouver Island. Econ Bot 25(1):63–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner NJ, Hebda RJ (1990) Contemporary use of bark for medicine by two Salishan native elders of Southeast Vancouver Island, Canada. J Ethnopharmacol 29:59–72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • USDA (2017) National genetic resources program. Germplasm resources information network (GRIN-Global) USDA, ARS Natl Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Md. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx. 19 Mar 2017

  • USDA Plants (2017) Plants database, threatened and endangered section. https://plants.usda.gov/threat.html. 19 Mar 2017

  • USDA-NRCS (2008a) Plant guide: bitter cherry Prunus emarginata (Dougl. Ex Hook) D Dietr. https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_prem.pdf. 20 Mar 2017

  • USDA-NRCS (2008b) Plant guide: black cherry Prunus serotina Ehrh. https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_prse2.pdf. 20 Mar 2017

  • USDA-NRCS (2008c) Plant guide: hollyleaf cherry Prunus ilicifolia (Nutt. Ex Hook & Arn) D Dietr. https://www.plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_pril.pdf. 20 Mar 2017

  • USDA-NRCS (2009a) Plant fact sheet: beach plum Prunus maritima Marsh. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/njpmcfs10296.pdf. 20 Mar 2017

  • USDA-NRCS (2009b) Plant fact sheet: dwarf sand cherry Prunus pumila L. var depressa (Pursh) Gleason. https://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_prpud.pdf. 20 Mar 2017

  • USDA-NRCS (2009c) Plant guide: chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia Marsh. https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_pran3.pdf. 20 Mar 2017

  • USDA-NRCS (2016) Plant guide: chokecherry Prunus virginiana L. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/kspmcpg5596.pdf. 20 Mar 2017

  • Vertucci CW, Roos EE (1990) Theoretical basis of protocols for seed storage. Plant Physiol 94:1019–1023

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Viereck LA, Little EL (1986) Oregon crab apple (Malus fusca). In: Alaska trees and shrubs. University of Alaska Press, Fairbanks, pp 205–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Villarreal JA (1989) A new species of Prunus subgenus Amygdalus (Rosaceae) from Coahuila. Mexico Contribut Bot 13:273–275

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincent H, Wiersema J, Kell S, Fielder H, Dobbie S, Castañeda-Álvarez NP, Guarino L, Eastwood R, León B, Maxted N (2013) A prioritized crop wild relative inventory to help underpin global food security. Biol Conserv 167:265–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Volk GM, Chao CT, Norelli J, Brown SK, Fazio G, Peace C, McFerson J, Zhong G-Y, Bretting P (2015a) The vulnerability of US apple (Malus) genetic resources. Genet Resour Crop Evol 62:765–794

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Volk GM, Henk AD, Baldo A, Fazio G, Chao CT, Richards CM (2015b) Chloroplast heterogeneity and historical admixture within the genus Malus. Am J Bot 102:1198–1208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen J, Berggren ST, Lee C-H, Ickert-Bond S, Yi T-S, Yoo K-O, Xie L, Shaw J, Potter D (2008) Phylogenetic inferences in Prunus (Rosaceae) using chloroplast ndhF and nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences. J Syst Evol 46:322–332

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiersema JH, León B, Garvey EJ (2012) Identifying wild relatives of subtropical and temperate fruit and nut crops. Acta Hortic 948:285–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams AH (1982) Chemical evidence from the flavonoids relevant to the classification of Malus species. Bot J Linn Soc 84:31–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y, Ruan X, Wang R (2013) Indigenous persimmon germplasm resources in China (2013). Acta Hortic 996:89–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yonemori K, Honsho C, Kanzaki S, Ino H, Ikegami A, Kitajima A, Sugiura A, Parfitt DE (2008) Sequence analyses of the ITS regions and the matK gene for determining phylogenetic relationships of Diospyros kaki (persimmon) with other wild Diospyros (Ebenaceae) species. Tree Genet Genomes 4:149–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao L, Jiang X-W, Y-j Z, Liu X-L, Chin S-W, Haberle R, Potter D, Chang Z-Y, Wen J (2016) Multiple events of allopolyploidy in the evolution of the racemose lineages in Prunus (Rosaceae) based on integrated evidence from nuclear and plastid data. PLoS One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0157123

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author is grateful to John Preece, Thomas Chao, Karen Williams, Sheri Crabtree, and Neal Peterson for providing collection inventory information. She is also appreciative to Colin K. Khoury, Chrystian C. Sosa, and Julia Sullivan for providing species distribution maps.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    Gayle M. Volk

Authors
  1. Gayle M. Volk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gayle M. Volk .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. USDA, Agricultural Research Service Center for Agricultural Resources, Research, National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    Stephanie L. Greene

  2. USDA, Agricultural Research Service Beltsville Agricultural Research, Center, National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA

    Karen A. Williams

  3. USDA, Agricultural Research Service Center for Agricultural Resources, Research, National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    Colin K. Khoury

  4. Tropical Plant and Soil Science, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Michael B. Kantar

  5. Department of Agronomy/North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA

    Laura F. Marek

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the U.S.; foreign copyright protection may apply

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Volk, G.M. (2019). Temperate Tree Fruits of North America: Malus Mill., Prunus L., Diospyros L., and Asimina Adans. In: Greene, S., Williams, K., Khoury, C., Kantar, M., Marek, L. (eds) North American Crop Wild Relatives, Volume 2. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97121-6_11

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation