Abstract
Apple is the most-produced temperate fruit, and it is widely recognized as a fruit with excellence. The worldwide market requires the selection of novel cultivars that are desired by consumers with long storability and suitability for sustainable production. These aspects have been shaped by evolution, domestication, and breeding. Apple is one of the species that has received great attention by different scientific disciplines. Intense breeding activities and genetic approaches have allowed the release of many improved cultivars grown and commercialized around the world. These new cultivars have been selected for fruit quality, disease resistance, and storability. Over the past three decades, several genes, quantitative trait loci (QTLs), and associated molecular markers suitable for assisted selection have been discovered and routinely applied in breeding. This progress was further supported by the sequencing of the genomes of several apple cultivars. Physiological and horticultural studies have shaped the canopy with new tree-architecture types enabling an improvement of fruit quality for more efficient light interception and easier horticultural management. Improved understanding of apple maturation and ripening is being revealed through the integration of physiological and molecular techniques. This knowledge is leading to the development of postharvest technologies to control the progression of fruit ripening after harvest. These advancements have significantly improved both the quality of apple and the length of storage, which in parallel enhanced its marketability, contributing to its economic success. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of these aspects, covering the origin and domestication of apple and disciplines involved in these studies, such as breeding goals, orchard management, harvest management, postharvest handling and storage, and the description of the main pests and diseases threatening apple. The continued need to integrate these disciplines is key to further development of apples that meet increasing demands of the consumer for high quality fruit that have been produced using sustainable and equitable management methods.