This book covers information on the economics; botany, taxonomy, and origin; germplasm resources; cytogenetics and nuclear DNA; genetic improvement efforts of scion cultivars; genetic and genomic improvement efforts of rootstocks; genetic and physical mapping; genomic resources; genome and epigenome; regulatory sequences; utility of whole-genome sequencing and gene editing in trait dissection; flowering and juvenility; cold hardiness and dormancy; fruit color development; fruit acidity and sugar content; metabolomics; biology and genomics of the microbiome; apple domestication; as well as other 'omics' opportunities and challenges for genetic improvement of the apple.

The cultivated apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) is one of the most important tree fruit crops of temperate regions of the world. It is widely cultivated and grown in North America, Europe, and Asia. The apple fruit is a highly desirable fruit due to its flavor, sugar and acid content, metabolites, aroma, as well as its overall texture and palatability. Furthermore, it is a rich source of important nutrients, including antioxidants, vitamins, and dietary fiber.

Chapter 1. World Trade and Economic Importance of Apple

Chapter 2. Botany, Taxonomy, and Origins of the Apple
Chapter 3. Apple Genetic Resources: Diversity and Conservation
Chapter 4. Ploidy, Genome Size, and Cytogenetics of Apple
Chapter 5. Genetics and Breeding of Apple Scions
Chapter 6. Genetics, Breeding, and Genomics of Apple Rootstocks
Chapter 7. Genetic and Physical Mapping of the Apple Genome
Chapter 8. The Apple Genome and Epigenome
Chapter 9. Regulatory Sequences in Apple
Chapter 10. Genome Editing in Apple
Chapter 11. Flowering and Juvenility in Apple
Chapter 12. Genetics and Genomics of Cold Hardiness and Dormancy
Chapter 13. Genetics and Genomics of Fruit Color Development in Apple
Chapter 14. Genomics of Fruit Acidity and Sugar Content in Apple
Chapter 15. Metabolomic Approaches for Apple Fruit Quality Improvement.- 16. The Apple Microbiome: Structure, Function, and Manipulation for Improved Plant Health
Chapter 17. Origin of the Domesticated Apple
Chapter 18. Future Prospects of 'Omics' and of Other Technologies for Genetic Improvement of Apple.