The Nurkkapuu-project of Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) started to collect and add information of apple tree (Malus domestica) local cultivars in January 2012. The thesis is part of the Nurkkapuu-project and Natural Resources Institute acts as its principal. The goal of the thesis was to find and identify old apple trees in the area of Mustiala former Agriculture Institute, current Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) Mustiala unit and in its immediate surroundings. Knowing apple trees enables to save the old apple varieties’ genetic heritage and makes it possible to ensure the productivity of local apple products, such as seedlings, jams and juices, which supports local entrepreneurship and job creation. It is possible to add Mustialas’ cultural diversity and advance the tourism value of Mustiala’s by promoting the profile of traditional fruit varieties.

In the theory part of the thesis national and international policy instruments of biodiversity and plant gene resources are clarified, manifestations of the apple tree (Malus domestica) are considered and the eventful history of Mustiala apple cultivation is discussed.

In Mustiala old Agricultural Institute and in its immediate surroundings, 230 apple trees were inventoried during 2015. 149 of them were named. 69 trees were left unknown for the present. 22 apple varieties that were researched with help of the morphological and DNA-method were found. Researches confirmed that Mustialan Valkea, which is included in Luke’s appletree collection, is genuine and Oton Omena is its own variety. Finding Joyce, Sariola, Syysjuovikas and Valkea Kuulas from Mustiala, confirmed the validity of the other varieties in Luke’s collections. On the basis of Sokerimiron’s DNA-analysis, it can also be proved that for this variety the real DNA identification was found. The inventory of the apple trees in Tammela is planned to be continued in a new research project in cooperation between HAMK and Luke.