OVER TUSSENVORMEN VAN SLEEDOORN EN KRIEKPRUIM

Samenvatting

The domestication history of the plum is investigated. About 600 samples of fruit­stones of blackthorn (Prunus spinosa L.), cherry plum (P. cerasifera Ehrh.), bullace (P. insititia L.) and their relatives have been collected. Special attention is paid to the intermediates of the species mentioned. So far, they turn out to be intermediates of blackthorn and bullace. The characteristics of their vegetative parts, and the size, shape and taste of the fruits vary to some extent. By contrast, comparison of the fruitstones led to the tentative formation of four fairly homogeneous clusters. Hybridizalian and polyploidy are discussed as possible ex­planations for the diversity.