Hybridisation of Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill. with Malus × domestica Borkh. and Implications for the Production of Forest Reproductive Material

This study focuses on the morphological and genetic characteristics of European crab apple (Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill.) occurrence hybrids in its populations. We analyzed a total 107 putative trees Slovenia: 92 from nine natural populations, five seed stand 10 unnatural origin. also included 18 domesticated × domestica Borkh.) two Japanese flowering (Malusfloribunda van Houtte) as outliers. The were classified into groups apples, apples according to their characteristics. Classification based traits produced different results (58.75% apple, 37.11% 4.14% apple) compared those analysis (70.10% 21.64% 8.26% apple). When combined, only 40.20% an additional group feral cultivars (6.18%) was identified. revealed that hybridization with is taking place all studied populations; however, occur limited extent. introducing forests future, genetically verified forest reproductive material obtained exclusively suitable stands should be used.