Apple tree named ‘Gala 0502B’

Abstract

Gala 0502B apple is Gala sport notable for its fruit, which attains a distinctive, deep purple-red color well before harvest. Gala 0502B can be harvested in a single picking due to its early intense and even coloration.

Claims

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

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) FIG. 1 shows trees of Gala 0502B;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a flower of Gala 0502B;

(3) FIG. 3 shows fruit and leaves on a Gala 0502B tree;

(4) FIG. 4 shows whole and sectioned fruit of Gala 0502B (left and center) and Buckeye (right); and

(5) FIG. 5 shows fruit of Gala 0502B (left), Buckeye (center) and Galaval (right)'.

(6) Actual colors will vary with lighting conditions; color characteristics of Gala 0502B apple tree should therefore be determined with reference to the observations described herein below, rather than from these illustrations alone.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

(7) The attached illustrations and the following detailed botanical description of Gala 0502B apple tree are based on observations made and photos taken during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons at Cornaiano, Italy of trees planted in 2013 on M9 T337 virus free rootstock (not patented). All colors are described according to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (2001). 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 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. Tree: Vigor.Medium (typical of Gala-type varieties). Type.Ramified. Habit.Drooping. Trunk diameter (at 30 cm above the graft).2.5 cm+/0.2 cm. Bark texture.Smooth. Bark color.Grey-brown 199A. Type of bearing.On spurs and long shoots. Branch (fruiting branches located at around 1 m above the graft union): Length.70 to 100 cm. Diameter.1 cm+/0.1 cm at 5 cm from the stem. Crotch angle.110 degrees+/10 degrees. Bark color.Greyed-green 197A. Lenticel length.0.14 cm+/0.05 cm. Lenticel color.Yellow-white 158A. Lenticels density.5+/2 per cm.sup.2. One year old shoot: Length.50 cm+/10 cm. Color.Greyed-purple 183A. Pubescence.Very weak. Thickness.0.5 cm+/0.1 cm. Internode length.3.5 cm+/0.5 cm. Lenticel density.12+/2 per cm.sup.2. Flower buds: Quantity per spur.6 per spur. Shape.Oval. Length.0.6 cm. Diameter.0.4 cm. Color.Greyed-purple N187A. Flowers: Diameter of fully open flower.5 cm+/0.2 cm. Relative position of petal margin.Not touching. Number per cluster.5 plus king flower. Date of first bloom.April 10. Date of full bloom.April 17. Pollination requirement.Pollenizer required (Fuji, Red Delicious, Granny Smith). Petals (all measured on king flower): Number per flower.5. Shape.Oval. Length.2.4 cm+/0.2 cm. Width.1.4 cm+/0.2 cm. Apex.Round. Base.Pointed. Margin.Smooth. Color of upper surface.White NN155C with red 54C veins. Color of lower surface.White N155C with red 54B veins. Stigma: Position.Above anthers (like Golden Delicious). Size.Diameter 0.08 cm+/0.1 cm. Color.Yellow 5A. Style: Size.Length 1.0 cm+/0.1 cm. Color.Yellow-green 145A. Ovary: Size.Length 0.5 cm+/0.1 cm. Color.Yellow-green 144A. Anthers: Quantity.10+/2. Size.Length 0.7 cm+/0.1 cm. Color.Yellow 10A. Pedicel: Length.2.8 cm+/0.2 cm. Diameter.0.1 cm+/0.02 cm. Color.Yellow-green 145A. Sepals: Quantity.5. Color.Green 142B. Shape.Pointed, triangular. Margin.Smooth. Leaves: Shape.Elliptic. Length.Up to 12 cm. Width.Up to 5 cm. Blade margin.Serrate. Apex.Acute. Base shape.Rounded. Division.Simple. Arrangement.Alternate. Venation.Pinnate. Vein color.Upper surface green 139C; lower surface red-purple 59A at base, fading to green 139D at apex. Color of upper surface.Green 139A. Color of lower surface.Green 139C. Attitude in relation to shoot.Outward. Petiole: Length.4.3 cm+/0.2 cm. Diameter.1.5 mm+/0.1 mm. Color of upper surface.Red-purple 59A. Color of lower surface.Red-purple 59A. Fruit: Quantity per cluster.Up to 5. Diameter.77 mm+/7 mm. Weight.210 g+/30 g. General shape in profile.Conic. Position of maximum diameter.Upper 50% in profile. Ribbing.Absent or weak. Crowning at calyx end.Moderate. Aperture of eye.Closed. Length of sepal.Long, 0.5 cm+/0.1 cm. Bloom of skin.Medium. Greasiness of skin.Absent. Background color of skin.Not visible. Amount of over color.100%. Over color of skin.Purple N79B. Intensity of over color.High. Pattern of over color.Solid flush. Amount of russet around stalk cavity.Absent or small. Amount of russet on cheeks.Absent. Area of russet around eye basin.Absent. Length of stalk.2.1 cm+/0.2 cm. Thickness of stalk.0.3 cm+/0.1 cm. Depth of stalk cavity.1.4 cm+/0.2 cm. Width of stalk cavity.1.6 cm+/0.2 cm. Depth of eye basin.Shallow, 0.7 cm to 1 cm deep. Width of eye basin.2.3 cm+/0.2 cm. Firmness of flesh.Medium, 6.5 kg per cm.sup.2. Flesh texture.Crisp. Aroma.Sweet. Juiciness.High. Brix.14 to 15 Brix. Flesh color.Yellow 10D. Number of lenticels.5+/2 per cm.sup.2. Size of lenticels.Large, up to 3 mm diameter. Aperture of locules.Moderately open. Stem color.Brown 200B. Seeds: Quantity per fruit.Up to 2 per chamber, up to 10 per fruit. Shape.Pointed. Length.0.8 cm+/0.1 cm. Breadth.0.45 cm+/0.1 cm. Color.Greyed-orange 177A. Harvest: Time for harvest.Mid-August, similar to other mid-season Gala varieties. Number of picks.1. Amount of fruit produced per tree per harvest.20 kg+/2 kg. Disease resistance/susceptibility.None noted; same as other Gala varieties. Market use.Fresh. Storageability.Up to 9 months in controlled atmosphere storage.