The Cultivation History of Apple in China

Apple is an ancient fruit in China, with a cultivation history of more than 2 000 years. However, few people have recognized that in different historical periods there are different varieties and names of apple. According to relevant historical sources and archeological information, early apples planted in ancient China were mainly varieties originated in western Xingjiang, which were called Nai (Malus domestica subsp. Chinensis) and Linqin(Malus asiatica). The latter was more favored. Since the Tang Dynasty there appeared some new varieties of apple such as Qiuzi, Bimba, Haihong, and etc. Bimba is a red flesh apple (Malus pumila var. niedzwetzkyana)probably also originated in Xingjiang, whose name comes from the Buddhist sutras. It was favored by people after Yuan Dynasty, and was called Pingguoin short from the Ming Dynasty. Since the second half of 19th century, apples cultivated in China were mainly varieties introduced from western countries. Though with the same name of Pingguo, they were very different from those varieties in ancient China. Meanwhile, names such as Nai, Linqin, and etc, were forgotten gradually. From this case study, we can find that it is not reliable to deduce ancient cultivated plants according to those of the same names today.