Crabapple tree named ‘JFS KW214MX’

Abstract

A variety of crabapple which combines a combination of a narrow, upright columnar growth habit, short internodes resulting in compact growth, attractive white flowers, slightly glossy dark green foliage, persistent red fruit, and a strong resistance to the diseases fireblight and apple scab.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of crabapple tree, as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The colors of an illustration of this type may vary with lighting conditions and, therefore, color characteristics of this new variety should be determined with reference to the observations described herein, rather than from these illustrations alone.

(2) FIG. 1: Shows the original tree at 7 years old with summer foliage illustrating its narrow upright columnar shape

(3) FIG. 2: Shows the original tree in flower at 10 years of age.

(4) FIG. 3: Shows a close-up of the flowers on the original tree.

(5) FIG. 4: Shows a close up of a few flowers on a display board with a scale.

(6) FIG. 5: Shows the original tree at 8 years of age with fruit

(7) FIG. 6: Shows a close-up of the fruit on the original tree

(8) FIG. 7: Shows a close-up of fruit on a display board with a scale.

(9) FIG. 8: Shows a close-up of fruit halved on a display board with a scale.

(10) FIG. 9: Shows a dormant branch tip on a display board with a scale illustrating the short internode length.

(11) FIG. 10: Shows the original tree at 7 years of age without foliage during the winter illustrating its narrow upright columnar shape.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(12) The following detailed description of the JFS KW214MX variety is based on observations of the original tree growing in Boring, Oreg. and of two and three year old asexually reproduced progeny. The observed progeny were trees which were growing in Canby, Oreg. Color descriptions are made with reference to The Royal Horticultural Society (London) Colour Chart 1986, except where ordinary dictionary significance of color is indicated. Scientific name: Malus JFS KW214MX. Parentage: Seed parent.Open pollinated seedlings of Malus KW-78MX. Pollen parent.Unknown. Tree: Overall shape.Narrow, upright column. Height.Original tree at 10 years of age, about 3.6 meters high. Width.Original tree at 10 years of age 1.4 meters spread. Caliper (trunk diameter).Original tree at 10 years of age, about 72 mm at 100 mm height, 58 mm at 800 mm height. Trunk.Strong and straight under nursery growing conditions. Trunk bark texture.Smooth, some vertical fissures with age. Trunk bark color.Greyed Green 197A to Greyed Green 197C. Immature bark color.Yellow Green 146A to Yellow Green 148C. Mature bark color.Greyed Orange 165A to 166B. Lenticels.Round to oval 0.5 mm0.25 mm disappearing by the 3.sup.rd year. Orange White 159C in color. Branch color.Greyed Green 197B to Greyed Green 198A. Branch lenticels.Similar to those on the trunk. Dormant buds.Elongated oval with acute tip, imbricate scales, 3 mm by 5 mm. Internodes.Average internode length is about 10-16 mm on a one-year old shoot. Hardiness.Has tolerated temperatures to 10 degrees F. in Boring Oreg. which is the lowest temperature experienced in this location. It is believed to have zone 4 cold hardiness similar to other plants of the same species. Disease resistance.Excellent resistance to fireblight (Erwinia amylovora), powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha) & apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) on foliage and fruit. Leaves: Except as otherwise noted, observations are from twenty vigorous growth leaves. Arrangement.Alternate. Type.Simple, entire, occasionally with 1 to 2 small lobes. Texture.Smooth, slight undulation between the veins. Sheen.Slightly Glossy on upper leaf surface only. Length.Averaging 60 mm to 65 mm. Width.Averaging 40 mm to 45 mm. Petioles.20 mm to 25 mm long, about 1 mm in diameter. Overall shape.Ovate with 1 or 2 occasional side lobes. Margin.Serrulate. Tip.Acute. Base.Broadly acute. Stipules.Two per leaf, 10 mm to 15 mm long by 2 mm to 3 mm wide. Summer leaf color.Upper leaf surface: Green 131A to Green 131C. Lower leaf surface: Green 137C to Green 137D. Vein: Yellow Green 153C to Yellow Green 153D. Fall leaf color.Subdued foliage turns Yellow 6A to Yellow 7A. Fall color begins.November 5.sup.st (Boring, Oreg. 2017). Fall color peak.November 21.sup.th (Boring, Oreg. 2017). Fall color ends.November 30.sup.th (Boring, Oreg. 2017). Pubescence.None. Persistence.Tree is deciduous. Flowers: Overall.Number of flowers per cluster: 5 to 6; flowers are single. Shape.Symmetrical, rounded, 5 petals, cupped. Size.Approximately 34 mm to 37 mm in diameter. Unopened bud.Red Purple 63B to Red Purple 63C. Petals.Five petals per flower, 8 mm to 10 mm wide16 to 20 mm long. Color White 155B. Petal shape is broadly oval to broadly obovate. Petal margins overlap. Sepals.Acute, length 2 mm6 mm at base. Green 142A. Stamen.About 15 to 20 stamens, 8 mm to 10 mm arranged concentrically around pistil. White 155B. Anthers.Yellow Orange 18A. 1 to 1.5 mm long by 0.5 mm to 0.25 mm in diameter. Pistil.Yellow Green 145A Compound, 3 to 5 branched, length 8 mm-10 mm. Ovary inferior, typically five carpels. Pollen.Yellow 13A. Moderate amount of pollen. Pedicel.22 mm to 26 mm long by 0.5 mm to 0.6 mm in diameter. Yellow Green 146B to Yellow Green 146C. Pubescence.Yes on the upper side of the sepal. Fragrance.Slightly sweet. Flowering date.In Boring, Oreg. 2017. First bloom April 23th, peak bloom May 1st, last bloom May 15th. (Bloom was about 2 weeks later than average at this location in 2017 due to cold spring weather). Fruit: Observations are from a sampling of typical fruit. Cluster.4 to 8 fruits per cluster. Size.Typical fruit is 14 mm to 18 mm in diameter by 13 mm to 15 mm long. Shape.Rounded, flattened, slightly wider than long. Skin.Smooth. Lenticels.None observed. Calyx.Sometimes present at maturity. Color.Immature summer fruit is Yellow Green 144C ripening to Red 45A in October; then finally Red 34A when fully ripe in October. Seeds.Typically 3 per fruit, ovoid to rounded, about 4 mm long and about 3 mm wide with a smooth surface, Greyed Orange 164A to Greyed Orange 164C in color. Fruit production.Moderate to heavy depending on the year. Fruit persistence.90% still persistent Nov. 15 (2017). Usage.Ornamental, non-edible.

COMPARISON TO THE SEED PARENT

(13) Compared to the seed parent tree KW-78MX, my new cultivar, JFS KW214MX, has fruit which is 14-18 mm in diameter, ripens to Red 45A to Red 34A and persists with good ornamental quality in November while KW-78MX has 20-25 mm diameter fruit that ripens to yellow and begins softening and turning brown in October. In addition, JFS KW214MX is highly resistant to apple scab disease whereas KW-78MX is only moderately resistant to this disease.

COMPARISON TO OTHER SIMILAR VARIETY

(14) TABLE-US-00001 Malus Malus Durleo Malus JFS W214MX PP20167 JFS KW213MX Form Narrow upright Compact upright Narrow upright column oval. column Leaf 60 mm to 85 mm 80 mm to Length 65 mm 90 mm Leaf 40 mm to 43 mm 40 mm to Width 45 mm 50 mm Petiole 20-25 mm 27 mm 20 mm Spring Green 131A to Green 143B Red Purple 59A to Upper Leaf 131C Purple 79B Color Branch Greyed Green Greyed Purple Purple Color 197A to Greyed 183B 79A to 79C Green 197C Bark on Smooth, Bole like bumps Smooth with trunk some vertical vertical fissures. fissures Branch 40-50 degrees 60-70 degrees 40-50 degrees Angles on 2 YR trees Fruit Color Red 45A to Red Purple Red 44A to Red 34A 59A Red 46A Fruit Size 13 to 14 mm long l0 mm 10 mm 15 to 17 mm 14-18 mm wide 16-18 mm Fruit Shape Round to slightly Round Round to slightly flattened oval

COMPARISON OF AVERAGE INTERNODE LENGTH

(15) When compared to other commercial ornamental crab apple varieties JFS KW214 has significantly shorter average internode lengths.

(16) TABLE-US-00002 Cultivar Average internode length Malus JFS KW214MX 10-16 mm Malus JFS-KW5 (PP14,375) 25-30 mm Malus Perfect Purple (unpatented) 25-30 mm Malus Spring Snow (unpatented) 30-35 mm Malus Prairiefire (unpatented) 30-35 mm Malus Profusion (unpatented) 25-30 mm