AMELANCHIER SPECIES

Species of the genus Amelanchier are naturally distributed from 500 m to 1000 m above sea level in the north-temperate zones of three continents, Asia, Europe and North America.
Domestication of indigenous germplasm has resulted in the introduction of several cultivars that are well suited for production of fruit and for use as landscape plants.

Extreme resistance to low temperature and drought stress with adaptation to calcareous soils are perhaps the most important adaptive genetic traits of this genus.
As a fruit crop, saskatoons (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.), are not unlike cultivated blueberries in terms of end product utilization, but because of their extreme resistance to environmental stress they have potential in regions very different from those that are ideal for blueberries.
Accordingly, there is a great deal of interest and some new research activity targeted toward commercial fruit development in the central plains of North America.
Also, early bloom, attractive fall color and resistance to cold and drought contribute to the use of several species as landscape plants.

Genetic Resources of Temperate Fruit and Nut Crops

C. Stushnoff

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1991.290.12