How Many Chromosomes Does an Apple Tree Have?
Apple trees are a type of deciduous tree that produce the popular fruit, apples. They belong to the genus Malus and have been cultivated for thousands of years. As with all living organisms, apple trees contain genetic material in the form of chromosomes.
Number of Chromosomes in an Apple Tree
An apple tree has 17 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 34 chromosomes. This is the same number as other species in the Malus genus, such as crabapple trees. The number of chromosomes can vary slightly between different varieties of apple trees, but it is usually around 34.
The number of chromosomes in an apple tree is important because it helps determine the characteristics of the fruit produced by the tree. For example, some varieties may produce larger or sweeter apples than others due to differences in their chromosome makeup.