Capitol News

Apple trees in Michigan's lower peninsula are increasingly at risk due to climate change, which causes warmer springs and leads to earlier blooming. This early bloom makes them vulnerable to frost damage. Steve van Nocker, a plant geneticist and professor at Michigan State University, is searching for apple species that can withstand these conditions.

Van Nocker and doctoral student Kaz Christian have identified Malus coronaria, a native Michigan apple tree, as a potential solution. Van Nocker stated that "the native apple tree is incredibly tolerant to spring frost simply because it blooms several weeks later than commercial apple trees." He emphasized the tree's resilience against weather extremes and pests, along with its postharvest durability.

Once common in Michigan, Malus coronaria has become scarce. "Most of the sites where it’s been recorded in the past are now shopping malls and housing developments," said van Nocker. He expressed concern over its decline and stressed the importance of preserving its genetic traits.

To locate this elusive species, van Nocker secured funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, the Michigan Apple Committee, and MSU Project GREEEN program. The USDA typically funds explorations abroad but supported this local project due to its significance.

"This project...is part of our state’s history," van Nocker explained. He highlighted concerns about climate change affecting apple production in Michigan, which ranks second nationally in apple production.

The research team recently discovered Malus coronaria specimens in Manistee National Forest and Huron National Forest near Au Sable River. These findings indicate a decline since many trees were unhealthy with little new growth.

Van Nocker's team collected fruit and cuttings for preservation efforts at USDA's collection in New York. They plan to grow seedlings on campus with MSU Herbarium support and graft cuttings onto rootstocks at Clarksville Research Center.

"Seeds are an excellent potential way to preserve genetics," noted van Nocker, though he acknowledged challenges such as cross-pollination risks leading to hybrids.

Looking ahead, van Nocker aims to identify genes responsible for late blooming in Malus coronaria. His goal is creating genetic stock for breeding commercial apples resistant to frost damage: "If I can cross Malus coronaria into a common Honeycrisp or Gala or Fuji...that would be huge for the industry."