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apples

The domestic apple was introduced to North America by European settlers in the early 1600s. Many different varieties of apple are now grown commercially in the United States. However, apple trees have had few negative impacts in their long history. What is this impact?

1. Interbreeding with North American crabapple trees has caused loss of genetic variation.

2. Apple trees out-competed native hardwoods, such as the American chestnut.

3. The apple industry uses chemicals to control pests and to improve crop appearance. Some of these chemicals may cause human health problems.

4. The wild apple trees provide food for species such as deer and mice, which leads to increased human health risks from ticks that carry Lyme disease.
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