Articles
Conserving Irelands indigenous apple cultivars for genetic diversity, cultural heritage and future research
Article number
1384_7
Pages
57 – 62
Language
English
Abstract
Ireland has a unique historical collection of heritage apples.
University College Dublin (UCD) orchard curates heritage Irish apple cultivars in a vital repository for conserving our national cultural and genetic heritage.
The collection has historical significance as a collection from the island of Ireland and is one of three national repositories.
Genetic diversity conserved in this orchard provides access to living material for use in horticulture, teaching, conservation, molecular biology and public interest.
Lack of written records limits detailed knowledge of apple introduction into Ireland, with knowledge traditionally passed down orally, resulting in fragmented and sometimes inaccurate records.
Indigenous Irish apple cultivars have been in Ireland since the 1500s.
Known Irish apple cultivars from the 1800s include Brown Crofton, Irish Peach, Ecklinville Seedling and Ard Cairn Russet. As additional molecular information became available from abroad, we re-evaluated the accuracy of our cultivar identification.
Molecular characterisation of every orchard tree, using microsatellite markers (DNA fingerprinting) to provide accurate taxonomic identification, was undertaken in conjunction with NIAB EMR, UK as part of the fruitID scheme.
Of 82 apple cultivars at UCD, 72 cultivars identification were confirmed (45 Irish, 27 non-Irish); 10 cultivars require further research to resolve their identity.
Several cultivars previously thought to be historically Irish have a DNA profile matching a non-Irish cultivar.
Some non-Irish cultivars have Irish synonyms reflecting a local Irish connection.
In addition, several different local names exist for the same Irish cultivar; working with other Irish orchard collections, we have agreed a common Irish varietal name, with other local names listed as synonyms.
UCD is committed to collaborating with our Irish partners (Irish Seed Savers Association and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) and international collaborator (fruitID) to protect this valuable national heritage collection for genetic diversity, research, education and cultural heritage.
University College Dublin (UCD) orchard curates heritage Irish apple cultivars in a vital repository for conserving our national cultural and genetic heritage.
The collection has historical significance as a collection from the island of Ireland and is one of three national repositories.
Genetic diversity conserved in this orchard provides access to living material for use in horticulture, teaching, conservation, molecular biology and public interest.
Lack of written records limits detailed knowledge of apple introduction into Ireland, with knowledge traditionally passed down orally, resulting in fragmented and sometimes inaccurate records.
Indigenous Irish apple cultivars have been in Ireland since the 1500s.
Known Irish apple cultivars from the 1800s include Brown Crofton, Irish Peach, Ecklinville Seedling and Ard Cairn Russet. As additional molecular information became available from abroad, we re-evaluated the accuracy of our cultivar identification.
Molecular characterisation of every orchard tree, using microsatellite markers (DNA fingerprinting) to provide accurate taxonomic identification, was undertaken in conjunction with NIAB EMR, UK as part of the fruitID scheme.
Of 82 apple cultivars at UCD, 72 cultivars identification were confirmed (45 Irish, 27 non-Irish); 10 cultivars require further research to resolve their identity.
Several cultivars previously thought to be historically Irish have a DNA profile matching a non-Irish cultivar.
Some non-Irish cultivars have Irish synonyms reflecting a local Irish connection.
In addition, several different local names exist for the same Irish cultivar; working with other Irish orchard collections, we have agreed a common Irish varietal name, with other local names listed as synonyms.
UCD is committed to collaborating with our Irish partners (Irish Seed Savers Association and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) and international collaborator (fruitID) to protect this valuable national heritage collection for genetic diversity, research, education and cultural heritage.
Authors
C. Elliott-Kingston, G. MacMaster
Keywords
genetic conservation, heritage apple cultivars, cultural history, Irish orchards
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