The terms pluot and aprium, blends of plum and apricot like the fruits they denote, date from the late 1980s and are registered trademarks of the firm Zaiger’s Genetics. The firm’s founder, Floyd Zaiger, a Nebraskan-born biologist working in fruit genetics, wanted to extend the range of fruits available to consumers and concentrated on creating varieties which were notable for their rich taste, as well as pleasing appearance.