Trees

Researchers analysed and completed physiological-biochemical studies to find out the impact of climate change and winter stress on different species. They compared species from the North Caucasian Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture, Viticulture, Winemaking (SKFNCSV) with three non-native species that are ripe in winter. They found two species appear to be most suited to current climatic and ecological conditions – Orpheus and Prikubanskoye which they recommend for cultivation in regions such as Krasnodar.

Kiselyova G.K., Ulyanovskaya E.V., Skhalakho T.V., Karavaeva A.V. The stability of the apple tree to the stresses of the winter period in the conditions of the Krasnodar Territory. Works on applied nerthics, genetics and selection. 2024;185(1):64-73. https://doi.org/10.30901/2227-8834-2024-1-64-73

Apples

The Caucasian crab apple is found throughout the Caucasus and has spread through hybridisation domestic cultivation in gardens and trade along the original Silk routes. One species – M.orientalis has adapted well with disease resistance, climate, late flowering and a longer shelf life.

The researchers used spatial distribution modelling (SDM) to analyse current environmental impacts and stresses. Traditionally tree chronology has also contributed through analysis of tree rings. The altitude in the Russian Caucasus is around 704m potentially making it less suitable as a habitat for this species, however with global warming, the regions around Georgia and southern Russia may be more favourable with the RCP8.5 model predictions. Overall it is not expected to increase further north because of lower precipitation.

They believe maintaining biodiversity will increase this crab apple species resistance to climate stresses and maintaining crop-relative wild species

Walas, Ł., Alipour, S., Haq, S.M. et al. The potential range of west Asian apple species Malus orientalis Uglitzk. under climate change. BMC Plant Biol 24, 381 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-05081-w