Malus Germplasm Conservation in Ireland. Dr. James Choiseul

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1 Malus Germplasm Conservation in Ireland Dr. James Choiseul

2 Content Background Infrastructure Collections Characterisation Future developments

3 Apple related Irish words Úll, or abhall = apple (ool,ooal,owl, owle, avel) Úllghort, or abhaillghort = orchard baileullghort = orchard town Cnocullgort = orchard hill

4 Apple Placenames Annahavil Aghowle Ballywhollart Aghowle Oola Oolagh Oulart Ballyhooley Knockullart Ballinoulart

5 Tankardstown, Co. Limerick

6 Neolithic house at Tankardstown Found while digging for Limerick gas pipeline and published Gowen 1988 Concentrated deposits of burnt animal bone in fill of foundation trench? Votive offerings? Hearth possibly in centre of house. Charred wheat, hazel nuts and crab apple pips found. C14 dates of BC

7 Apple; uball cumrae sweet apple Distinction being made between crab apples fíadubull wild apple and cultivated apples? Between cookers and eating apples? Crann cemchenóil an apple tree of the same kindred (e.g. different varieties known)

8 Legal status of apple trees: the Old Irish tree list The Old Irish tree list: 1. airig fedo nobles of the wood : daur oak, coll hazel, cuilenn holly, ibar yew, uinnius ash, ochtach Scots pine?', aball apple-tree 2. aithig fedo commoners of the wood : fern alder, sail willow, scé whitehorn, hawthorn, cáerthann rowan, mountain ash, beithe birch, lem elm, idath wild cherry? 3. fodla fedo lower divisions of the wood : draigen blackthorn, trom elder, bore-tree, féorus spindle-tree, findcholl whitebeam?', caithne arbutus, strawberry tree, crithach aspen, crann fir juniper? 4. losa fedo bushes of the wood : raith bracken, rait bogmyrtle, aiten gorse, furze, dris bramble, blackberry, fróech heather, gilcach broom?', spín wild rose?'.

9 Fines for cutting down trees Fine for cutting down airig fedo (nobles of the wood) = 3 milk-giving cows Fines for cutting down aithig fedo (commoners of the wood) = 1 milk-giving cow Fine for cutting down apple tree (in lubgort) belonging to a chieftan (nemed) = 10 milk giving cows Fine for cutting down apple tree (in lubgort) belonging to a commoner = 2 ½ milk giving cows 2 cows and 3-year old dry heifer 1 milk-giving cow = 48 cerc cen rún hens without secrets = non-broody hens

10 Monasterboice High cross,

11 Collectors 1. Dr. John George Dalkeith Lamb collected old apples from 1945 to 1949 and established the UCD collection. Prof. E.J. Clarke maintained the collection until it was destroyed in1970. Repatriated in Now planted at UCD, Belfield, Dublin. 2. Mrs. Annie MacNiece began saving old Armagh apples in her garden in the late 1940s. Her son Peadar began collecting in1970. Established The Armagh Orchard Trust in Their collection is now housed in the walled garden at Loughgall. 3. Ms. Anita Hayes founded The Irish Seedsavers Assoc. in Originally in Carlow, now in Scariff, Co. Clare. Still actively collecting apples, cereals,vegetables, etc.vers Assoc.- Anita Hayes

12 Irish Apple Collections Armagh Orchard Trust University College Dublin Irish Seed Savers

13 UCD Collection In c Prof. Michael Hennerty became involved in the apple conservation project In 1997 the Lamb-Clarke Historical Irish Apple Collection was established in UCD First characterisation exercise undertaken

14 Characterisation by Morphology Fruit Characteristics Shape Skin Colour Basin Sepal Cavity Stalk Floral Tube Stamen position Pistil Point Core Core Lines Carpels

15 Additional Characteristics Maturity Date Flowering Dates Taste Provenance

16 Characterisation -Molecular Aim Compare collections and eliminate duplication Compare Irish apple accessions with UK and Continental equivalents Method Micro-satellite analysis (7-9) Undertaken in two batches Ireland/Sweden Co-operation

17 Findings Collection Core collection of c. 80 cvs considered to be indigenous Flowering Main period April-May, early by international standards Micro-satellite analysis No regional clustering Very little replication within collection No two accessions identical

18 Comparison with other collections

19 Future Complete Micro-satellite work Publish book on old Irish Apples

20 Acknowledgement Prof Michael Hennerty, UCD Ms Anita Hayes, ISSA Prof Thomas Gallagher, UCD Dr Cathy Swift, MIC, Limerick