Apple tree named ‘NY56’

Abstract

A new and distinctive variety of a Malus domestica apple tree named NY56, particularly characterized by its overall horticultural performance and consistency including resistance to apple scab and excellent fruit quality at harvest by having crisp, juicy and flavorful fruit, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree named NY56 as herein described and illustrated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The NY56 apple tree variety is illustrated by the accompanying photographs. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. However, the colors in the photographs 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 the photographs alone. The photographs are from trees that are seven years old for FIG. 1, and from trees that are 14 years old for FIG. 2 to FIG. 8.

(2) FIG. 1 depicts a bushel of fruit of apple tree variety NY56, depicting the range in fruit coloring and the typical fruit size and shape.

(3) FIG. 2 depicts a close up of fruit of apple tree variety NY56 at harvest.

(4) FIG. 3 depicts a row of trees of apple tree variety NY56 in orchard.

(5) FIG. 4A and 4B depict a mature leaf of apple tree variety NY56. FIG. 4A depicts a top view of the leaf. FIG. 4B depicts a bottom view of the leaf.

(6) FIG. 5 depicts a flower cluster of apple tree variety NY56.

(7) FIG. 6A to 6C depict a comparison of flowers between apple tree varieties Honeycrisp, NY56, and NY65707-19. FIG. 6A depicts Honeycrisp. FIG. 6B depicts NY56. FIG. 6C depicts NY65707-19.

(8) FIG. 7A to 7F depict six views of a typical fruit of apple tree variety NY56. FIG. 7A depicts a cross section of NY56 fruit cut longitudinally from top to bottom. FIG. 7B depicts a side view of the sun-exposed side of NY56 fruit. FIG. 7C depicts a stem and stem cavity of NY56 fruit. FIG. 7D depicts a cross section of NY56 fruit cut horizontally through the seed cavity. FIG. 7E depicts a side view of the shaded side of NY56 fruit. FIG. 7F depicts a calyx and basin area of NY56 fruit.

(9) FIGS. 8A and 8B depict a comparison of fruit basin between apple tree varieties NY56 and Honeycrisp. FIG. 8A depicts NY56. FIG. 8B depicts Honeycrisp.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(10) The following description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of apple tree NY56. The following description is based on the originally identified apple tree and asexually reproduced progeny grown in Geneva, N.Y., which is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6A.

(11) Referring more specifically to the details of the new and distinct apple tree variety NY56, unless otherwise stated, the following observations and characteristics have been taken since 1995 from a number of trees in different orchards in order to provide consistent descriptions.

(12) Certain characteristics of this variety may change with changing environmental conditions (e.g., light, temperature, moisture, etc.), nutrient availability, or other factors. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from a number of individual plants of the new variety. The measurements of any individual plant, or any group of plants, of the new variety may vary from the stated average. Color descriptions and other terminology are used in accordance with their ordinary dictionary descriptions, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Color designations are made with reference to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart (4.sup.th Edition, published 2001). Tree: Ramified tree type. Small to medium in size (mature trees on dwarf rootstocks have an average height of 3.2 m and spread of 2.1 m); standard upright habit; low vigor; early bearing on spurs. Trees are conducive to both free standing and trellis supported production systems. Tree trunk: One-year-old dormant wood surface color is RHS 166A (Greyed-orange). Four-year-old dormant wood surface color is RHS 174A (Greyed-orange). Bark lenticels are small, round to oval in shape, average 6 per square centimeter, and range from 0.5 mm to 2.3 mm in diameter. Branch: Branch diameter of four-year-old wood is 13.4 mm. Branch angle is flat, typically 5 degrees to 25 degrees above the horizontal. One-year-old shoots have an average internode length of 27 mm and 10 lenticels per square cm. Leaf: Leaves are medium in size. Average leaf blade length is 87 mm and average blade width is 60 mm. Concavo-convex in cross section; upward in pose; medium glossiness of upward (adaxial) side; serrate margin indentation; average 3.1 serrations per centimeter. The color of the upper leaf blade surface is most similar to RHS 139A (Green) and the color of upper veins is RHS 145A (Yellow-green). The color of lower leaf blade surface is RHS 148B (Yellow-green) and the color of lower veins is RHS 145C (Yellow-green). Petioles are medium in length, with an average length of 25 mm. The color of petiole is RHS 191B (Greyed-green) and the color of the petiole base is RHS 183A (Greyed-purple). Stipules have an average length of 6.7 mm and an average width of 0.8 mm. Flower: Flower color at the pink phenology stage is RHS 63A (Red-purple). Flower petals when open slightly overlap or have a space between them. Average flower width is 38 mm. There are five petals per flower. Petals are flat and wrinkled, cupped upward, wavy and slightly ribbed upward along midrib. Average petal length is 18 mm, and average width is 12 mm. Flower petals are white, some having a pink tinge. White coloring is RHS N155B (White) and RHS N155C (White) and pink coloring is RHS 51C (Red). Average flower pedicel length is 20 mm, and width 1.3 mm. Flower pedicel color is RHS 148B (Yellow-green). Anther color is RHS 162B (Greyed-yellow). There are 19 stamens per flower, each 6 to 11 mm long. Stamen color is RHS 145C (Yellow-green). Style is 11 mm long. Style number is five per flower. Style color is RHS 146D (Yellow green). Sepal length is 8 mm, and width is 4 mm. Sepal color is RHS 147C (Yellow-green) and tinged basally with a color of RHS 183B (Greyed-purple). Time of beginning of flowering: intermediate. Fruit: Shape.Mostly conic, few are globose. Firmness.Average 15.8 pounds of pressure (range 13.1-20.0 pounds). Soluble solids.Average 13.3 Brix (range 11.2-15.7 Brix). Starch-iodine index ratings near maturity.Average 4.1 (range 2.0-7.3). Weight.Average 253 grams (range 203-303 grams). Diameter.Average 8.46 cm (range 7.9-8.8 cm). Height.Average 7.34 cm (range 6.7-8.0 cm). Juice pH.Average 3.5 (range 3.3-3.6). Color.Darkest fruit skin color is RHS 180A (Greyed-red); lighter fruit skin color is RHS 179B (Greyed-red). Fruit background color is RHS 151D (Yellow-green). Fruit lenticels are round, mostly dull and inconspicuous, with a color of RHS 161C (Greyed-yellow). There are on average 3.9 fruit skin lenticels per square centimeter. Fruit flesh color is RHS 155A (White). Bloom.Bloom of the fruit skin is weak. Flesh firmness.Fruit flesh is firm. Stem cavity (stalk).Acute, with a depth of 23.6 mm and a width of 33.8 mm. Stem.Average length is 19.1 mm and average thickness is 2.8 mm. Fruit stem color is RHS 152B (Yellow-green). Stem cavity russet color is RHS 199D (Grey-brown). Basin (eye).Abrupt, with medium to deep, broad breadth. Average basin depth is 19.5 mm and average basin width is 32.3 mm. Calyx.Persistent, closed, with erect lobes united at base. Calyx tube.Conical. Stamen remnants.Marginal. Carpels.Roundish, axile and emarginate. Core.Median and open. Core lines.Meeting. Locules.The aperture of the locules are moderately open. Seeds.Acute. Average 4.8 seeds per fruit; five locules per fruit; seed length 7.0 mm; width 5.0 mm; depth 3.0 mm; acuminate. Fresh seed color is RHS 166A (Greyed-orange), and dried seed color is RHS N199B (Grey-brown). Harvest time (eating maturity).Maturity is between October 2 and October 9 in a typical year in Geneva, N.Y. Keeping quality.Stores until the end of December. Fruit use.Multiple, e.g., fresh, slicing, and cider, etc. Resistance to diseases and disorders: NY56 is resistant to Venturia inaequalis (apple scab). NY56 also appears to have good field resistance to cedar apple rust (CAR) caused by the fungal pathogen Gymnosporangium juniper-virginianae Sch. Bitter pit, storage rots, water core, brown core, scald and chilling temperature-related breakdown disorders have been observed at low amounts in certain years. Keeping quality in regular cold storage is up to 80 days. Management: Trees require standard management for optimum tree growth and fruit quality. Trees require dormant pruning, fertilization, fruit thinning and pest control.