Apple tree named ‘GS-66’

Abstract

GS 66 is a new apple tree variety notable for its fruit. Apples of GS 66 exhibit a shiny red overcolor, crisp juicy non-browning flesh, and resistance to bruising.

Claims

1. A new and distinct apple tree substantially as described and illustrated herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The appended photographs, taken in 2017 at Wendhausen, Germany, show 8-year-old trees grown on M9 rootstock (not patented).

(2) FIG. 1 shows fruit and leaves of GS 66;

(3) FIG. 2 shows fruit, leaves and branches of a GS 66 tree;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a GS 66 tree; and,

(5) FIG. 4 shows leaves of GS 66.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

(6) The following-detailed botanical description is based on observations made during 2017 at Wendhausen, Germany of 8-year-old trees grown on M9 rootstock (not patented). All colors are described according to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (1966 edition). It should be understood that the characteristics described will vary somewhat depending upon cultural practices and climatic conditions, and will vary with location and season. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken. The measurements of any individual plant or any group of plants of the new variety may vary from the stated average. Tree: Vigor.Medium. Type.Ramified. Habit.Spreading. Height.3.5 m. Bearing.On shoots and spurs. Trunk diameter (at 30 cm above the graft).73 mm. Bark texture.Smooth. Bark coloration.Greyed-orange 175C. Lenticel length.10 to 13 mm. Lenticel color.Yellow-white 158D. Branch (fruiting branches located at around 1 m above the graft union): Length.70 to 90 cm. Diameter.21 mm on a 90 cm branch. Crotch angle.85. Bark color.Greyed-orange 177B. Lenticel length.9 to 12 mm. Lenticel color.Yellow-white 158D. Lenticel quantity.5 to 6 per cm.sup.2. One year old shoot: Length.20 to 25 cm. Diameter.5 to 6 mm. Color.Brown 200A. Pubescence.None to low. Internode length.25 to 27 mm. Lenticel quantity.6 to 7 per cm.sup.2. Lenticel color.Orange-white 159B. Flower buds: Quantity per spur.1. Shape.Conical. Apex.Pointed. Length.15 mm. Diameter.5 to 7 mm. Color.Greyed-orange 177A. Flowers: Diameter.4.3 cm. Color.White 155B with purple 74C veins. Petal arrangement.Not touching. Flowers per cluster.6 to 7. Time of beginning of flowering.First bloom April 21, full bloom April 28; 3 days after Golden Delicious (not patented). Petals: Quantity per flower.5. Length.18 mm to 21 mm. Diameter.12 mm to 14 mm. Shape.Oval. Apex shape.Rounded. Base.Pointed. Margin.Smooth. Pedicel: Length.25 mm to 28 mm. Diameter.1 mm to 1.2 mm. Color.Yellow green 144B. Sepals: Quantity.5. Shape.Pointed conical. Apex shape.Acute. Margin.Smooth. Leaves: Shape.Elliptic to oval. Length.90 to 100 mm. Width.45 to 50 mm. Length/width ratio.2:1. Blade margin.Crenate. Apex.Acuminate. Base shape.Rounded. Color of upper surface.Green 138A. Color of lower surface.Green 138B. Attitude in relation to shoot.Upward. Petiole: Length.25 to 29 mm. Diameter.1.5 mm. Color.Greyed-purple 184D. Fruit: Quantity per cluster.1 to 2. Diameter.70 to 80 mm. Height.80 mm. Weight.239 g. Ratio of height to width.1:0.97. General shape in profile.Globose. Position of maximum diameter.Upper third to middle. Ribbing.Absent or weak. Crowning at calyx end.Low. Bloom of skin.None. Greasiness of skin.Absent or weak. Over color of skin.Greyed-red 179A. Intensity of over color.Dark. Amount of over color.70 to 80%. Pattern of over color.Solid flush with weakly defined stripes; some minor stripes on shaded side. Background color of skin.Greyed-yellow 160A. Lenticels.Prominent, abundant. Amount of russet around stalk cavity.Low; low-medium inside stalk cavity. Amount of russet on cheeks.None. Area of russet around eye basin.None. Length of stalk.20 mm. Thickness of stalk.2.2 mm. Depth of stalk cavity.17 mm. Width of stalk cavity.23 mm. Depth of eye basin.12 mm. Width of eye basin.19 mm. Aperture of eye.Closed. Size of eye.Small, about 3 mm to 4 mm. Length of sepal.6 mm. Firmness of flesh.Firm, 8.2 kg/cm.sup.2. Flesh texture.Very crisp, fine. Juiciness.High. Brix.13.7 Brix. Acidity.8.9%. Flesh color.Greyed-yellow 160D. Stem color.Greyed-orange 174B. Seeds: Quantity per fruit.6. Shape.Oval. Color.Greyed-orange 175A. Size.Length 9 mm; width 4.8 mm. Harvest: Time for harvest.Similar to Braeburn; Oct. 15, 2017. Number of picks.Two. Fruit load per tree.63 (frost at test site in 2017). Disease resistance/susceptibility: Susceptible to mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha). Storage characteristics: Very good, more than 4 months in cold storage; more than 7 months in controlled atmosphere storage. Market use: Fresh consumption.