Apple tree named 'MAIA-T'

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of apple was identified from a population of seedlings derived from an open-pollinated Honeycrisp block. The new variety, named MAIA-T, is distinct from Honeycrisp as MAIA-T ripens mid-September, 2 weeks after Honeycrisp. Unlike Honeycrisp, MAIA-T has purple skin, yellow ground color, and considerable russet. MAIA-T fruit are medium sized, crisp, with more complex, sweet-tart flavors than Honeycrisp. MAIA-T does not maintain crisp texture in 35 F. storage for as long as Honeycrisp.

Claims

1. A new, distinct apple tree variety named MAIA-T, as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety depicted in color as true as is reasonably possible. MAIA-T photographs were taken at Pataskala, Ohio. FIG. 1 was created from harvest data from Pataskala, Ohio, and storage data from Carrollton, Ohio.

[0007] FIG. 1. A chart showing that MAIA-T is distinct from Honeycrisp in harvest and storage windows.

[0008] FIG. 2. An image of typical fruit of MAIA-T at harvest time.

[0009] FIG. 3. An image of typical MALA-T trees bearing fruit in September in Ohio.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0010] Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart (R.H.S.) 2001 Edition. [0011] Parentage: Honeycrisp female parent and unknown male parent; open pollination conditions cultivated by Mitch Lynd at Pataskala, Ohio in 1999. [0012] Grafted tree on B9 rootstock (reference tree): [0013] Age.12 years. [0014] Size.15 height, 8 spread. [0015] Vigor.Medium. [0016] Form.Round, spreading. [0017] Production.Very productive. [0018] Growth type.Spindle tree growth form, productive spurs located throughout tree. [0019] Bearing.Annual. [0020] Trunk: [0021] Reference tree.3.5cm at 15 cm height. [0022] Bark color.Greyed-Brown 199A. [0023] Lenticels.Oblong, 31 mm. [0024] Lenticel color.Greyed-Brown N199D. [0025] Lenticel density.2 lenticels/cm.sup.2. [0026] Branches: [0027] 3 year old.8-9 mm in diameter, branch angle 80-90; Greyed-Brown 199A. [0028] 2 year old.5-6 mm in diameter, branch angle 60; Greyed-Green 197A. [0029] 1 year old.4-5 mm in diameter, branch angle 60-80; Grey-Orange 166A. [0030] Leaves: [0031] Size.Length 70-115 mm; width 45-65 mm. [0032] Texture.Leathery, crisp, wavy. [0033] Form.Ovate. [0034] Base.Roundly cuneate. [0035] Apex.Acute. [0036] Adaxial surface.Pubescence: None. [0037] Abaxial pubescence.Lightly pubescent. [0038] Adaxial surface color.Green Group N137B. [0039] Abaxial surface color.Green Group 143A. [0040] Veination.Pinnate, 7-9 major veins, mainly alternate; Yellow-Green 144B. [0041] Margin.Serrate. [0042] Petiole length.20-35 mm. [0043] Petiole width.2 mm. [0044] Petiole abaxial color.Yellow-Green 144B to Greyed-Purple 183A toward base. [0045] Petiole groove.Very shallow, depth 0.1 mm. [0046] Stipules.Present; 8-12 mm length; 1.5 mm width; Green Group 143A. [0047] Leaf glands.None observed. [0048] Leaf buds: [0049] Length.4-5 mm. [0050] Width.4 mm. [0051] Color.Yellow-Green 149B with Greyed-Orange 166A overtones. [0052] Placement on branch.Alternate. [0053] Internode distance.20-30 mm. [0054] Spurs: Present on 2yr and older wood. [0055] Length.varies from 8 to 150 mm. [0056] Relative proportion of spurs of each length.100-150 mm=2. 50-99 mm=2. 8-49 mm=7. [0057] Width.4-7 mm. [0058] Flowers at popcorn stage: [0059] Pedicel.Length 9-11 mm; width 2 mm. [0060] Pedicel color.Green Group 198A. [0061] Bud.Length 11-12 mm; width 8-11 mm. [0062] Flowers at full bloom: [0063] Bloom time.Blooms slightly before Golden Delicious. Bloom time varies with temperature, but is typically during the 4th week of April in northeast Ohio. [0064] Bloom period.Approximately 7 days. [0065] Presentation.Showy. [0066] Fragrance.Aromatic. [0067] Fertility.Fertile. [0068] Number of flowers per cluster.5-6 with 5 typical. [0069] Petals: [0070] Arrangement.Bases not overlapping; 5 petals per flower; each petal 20-24 mm length, 14-15 mm width. [0071] Color.Upper surface (inside) White Group NN155D; Lower surface (outside) slightly colored, Greyed-Green NN155C with Red-Purple 61A. [0072] Shape.Broadly ovate with occasional notching and ruffling. [0073] Veins.Distinct. [0074] Margins.Ruffled edges with notching up the petal. [0075] Texture.Soft. [0076] Receptacle.Length 3-4 mm; width 3-3.5 mm; color Greyed-Purple 184B. [0077] Pedicel.Length 8-10 mm; width 2-2.5 mm; color Greyed-Green 197B. [0078] Sepals.5/flower; wedge-shaped, sharply pointed; length 5-6 mm; width 3-4 mm at widest point; adaxial and abaxial color Greyed-Green 197A. [0079] Stamens.16-18 in number. [0080] Anthers.Length 1.5-2 mm; width 1-1.5 mm; color Yellow Group 2D. [0081] Petal apex.Predominantly rounded with some fluting. [0082] Pollen.Present and abundant; color Yellow Group 10C. [0083] Filaments.Length 6-7 mm; width 0.5-1 mm; color Greyed-Green 157B. [0084] Pistil.Held above the anthers in majority of blossoms; color Yellow-Green 145B. [0085] Ovary.Length 2.5 mm; width 2.5 mm; color Green Group 143B. [0086] Style.Length 12-13 mm; styles are fused in bottom 4 mm only; width 0.5 mm; color Yellow-Green 144B. [0087] Stigma.Width 0.5-1 mm; held above the anther in the majority of blossoms; color Yellow-Green 151B. [0088] Pollination requirements: Requires cross-pollination from diploid varieties with overlapping bloom; will pollinate diploid varieties of overlapping bloom. [0089] Fruit: [0090] Maturity when described.3 month storage. [0091] Date of picking.Sep. 30, 2016. [0092] Size.Axial diameter 68-89 mm; Transverse diameter shortest point 35-50 mm; Transverse diameter longest point 59-70 mm. [0093] Fruit weight.162-240 g; Average 194 g. [0094] Form.Roundish, oblate, conic, side unequal. [0095] Cavity.Acute, deep, light russet in cavity. [0096] Basin.Shallow, relative to other variety, wide, smooth, regular. [0097] Calyx.Closed, tight. [0098] Skin: [0099] Thickness.Medium. [0100] Tendency to crack.Little. [0101] Stripes.Heavy striping, russet. [0102] Lenticels.Irregular. [0103] Color.Red-Purple 60A. [0104] Ground color.Yellow-Orange 16B. [0105] Russet color.Yellow-Orange 22A. [0106] Flesh: [0107] Aroma.Sweet, aromatic. [0108] Color.Yellow-White 158A. [0109] Texture.Crisp, firm, breaking, juicy. [0110] Eating quality.Excellent. [0111] Flavor.Sweet-tart, honeyed/scented. [0112] Core: Small. [0113] Bundle area.1520 mm.sup.2-2400 mm.sup.2. [0114] Bundle.Conspicuous. [0115] Axial carpel length.6-10 mm. [0116] Locule.Closed. [0117] Seed cells.Walls thin, tough. [0118] Seeds: [0119] Number perfect.6-11. [0120] Number in one cell.1-2. [0121] Length.7-9 mm. [0122] Breadth.4-5 mm. [0123] Color.Greyed-Orange 165A. [0124] Stem: [0125] Length.13-26 mm. [0126] Average length.20 mm. [0127] Width.2-4 mm. [0128] Color.Greyed-Green 194B. [0129] Use: Fresh market, dessert. [0130] Shipping quality: Good. [0131] Keeping quality: Moderate. [0132] Drought tolerance: Average for domestic apple. [0133] Tree winter hardiness: Average for domestic apple. [0134] Disease: [0135] Resistance.Slight resistance to fireblight (Erwinia amylovora) and apple scab (Venturia inaequalis). [0136] Susceptibility.Susceptible to powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha) and other fungal diseases. [0137] Yield: Approximately 2.5 bushel/tree at 300 trees/acre yields 750 bushels/acre annually.