APPLE TREE NAMED MAIA-MITCHELL

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of apple was identified as a limb mutation of the variety MAIA1. The new variety, named MAIA-MITCHELL ripens in late October. MAIA-MITCHELL has a strong red coloration that is distinct from its parent in both hue and coverage. MAIA-MITCHELL develops this coloration several weeks earlier than its parent variety, allowing growers to harvest the fruit at optimal maturity without the need to wait for commercially preferable coloration to develop.

Claims

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

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety as depicted in color as nearly true as is reasonably possible. MAIA-MITCHELL photographs were taken in Wayne and Cayuga Counties, New York.

[0009] FIG. 1. Shows the original MAIA-MITCHELL limb mutation (in foreground) on the parent MAIA1 tree, in Wolcott, New York. The photograph was taken Sep. 28, 2019 when the tree was five years old.

[0010] FIG. 2. Shows the difference in coloration between MAIA1 (Panel A) and MAIA-MITCHELL (Panel B) on Aug. 15, 2022, roughly ten weeks prior to harvest. Both trees were grafted by chip-budding onto seedling rootstocks in 2020 in Sterling, New York.

[0011] FIG. 3 Shows the difference in coloration between FIG. 3. MAIA1 (Panel A) and MAIA-MITCHELL (Panel B) on Sep. 8, 2022, roughly seven weeks prior to harvest. Both trees were grafted by chip-budding onto seedling rootstocks in 2020 in Sterling, New York.

[0012] FIG. 4. Shows the difference in coloration between the mature fruit of MAIA1 (Right) and MAIA-MITCHELL (Left) at the time of harvest.

[0013] FIG. 5. Shows the iodine solution reactions for starch scoring of fruit of MAIA1 (Left) and MAIA-MITCHELL (Right) harvested on the same day, illustrating comparable maturity timing.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0014] Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) 2001 Edition. [0015] Parentage: Limb mutation of MAIA1 (U.S. Plant Pat No. 24579) . Locality of the original discovery and observations are Wolcott, New York and Sterling, New York. [0016] Grafted tree on B9 rootstock (reference tree): [0017] Age.5 years. [0018] Vigor.Moderate. [0019] Form.Round, spreading with moderate density [0020] Production.Very productive; 2.5 bushels/tree at 300 trees/acre=750 bushels/acre. [0021] Growth type.Non-spur with very weak dominance. [0022] Bearing.Annual. [0023] Trunk: [0024] Bark color.Grey-Brown 199A. [0025] Lenticels.Oblong, 2.5?1.5 mm. [0026] Lenticel color.Grey Brown 199B. [0027] Lenticel density.6 lenticels/cm.sup.2 on average. [0028] Branches: [0029] 3 Year old.16-22 mm in diameter, branch angle 80-90?, Grey-Brown 199A. [0030] 2 Year old.14-18 mm in diameter, branch angle 80? 90?, Grey-Brown 199A. [0031] 1 Year old.9-10 mm in diameter, branch angle 80? 90?, Grey-Brown 199D. [0032] Leaves: [0033] Size.Length 75 mm; width 55 mm. [0034] Texture.Leathery, crisp. [0035] Form.Ovate. [0036] Base.Roundly cuneate. [0037] Apex.Acute. [0038] Adaxial surface pubescence.None. [0039] Abaxial surface pubescence.Finely pubescent. [0040] Adaxial surface color.Yellow-Green 146B. [0041] Abaxial surface color.Yellow-Green 146D. [0042] Venation.Pinnate, 8-9 major veins; mainly alternate; Yellow-Green 149D. [0043] Margin.Serrate. [0044] Petiole length.30 mm. [0045] Petiole width.3 mm. [0046] Petiole abaxial color.Yellow-Green 145A to Greyed Purple 185C toward base and abscission layer on larger leaves. [0047] Petiole groove.Very shallow, depth 0.1 mm. [0048] Stipules.Present; 5 mm length; 1 mm width; Yellow Green 146D. [0049] Leaf glands.None observed. [0050] Leaf buds: [0051] Length.1.5 mm. [0052] Width.1.5 mm. [0053] Color.Yellow-Green 145B with Greyed-Purple 185B overtones. [0054] Placement on branch.Alternate. [0055] Internode distance.25 mm. [0056] Spurs: Present on 2 yr and older wood. [0057] Length.Varies from 10 to 350 mm. [0058] Proportion.350 mm: 1; 200-350 mm: 3; 100-200 mm: 3; 50-100 mm: 3; 10-50 mm: 3. [0059] Width.Short: 3.5 mm; Medium: 5 mm; Long: 7 mm. [0060] Flowers at popcorn stage: [0061] Pedicel.Length 12-15 mm; diameter 2 mm. [0062] Pedicel color.Yellow-Green 148D. [0063] Bud.Length 7-9 mm; width 7 mm. [0064] Bud color.Red-Purple 63B, before flower petals expand and open; background of White 155C. [0065] Flowers at full bloom: [0066] Bloom time.Blooms with Golden Delicious and MAIA1. Bloom time varies with temperature. [0067] Bloom period.Approximately 7 days but varies with temperature. [0068] Presentation.Showy. [0069] Fragrance.Aromatic. [0070] Fertility.Fertile. [0071] Corolla diameter.?35-40 mm. [0072] Number of flowers per cluster.4-6 with 5 typical [0073] Petals: [0074] Arrangement.Bases overlapping; 5 petals per flower; each petal 15-18 mm length; 12-14 mm width. [0075] Color.Upper surface (inside) White 155C; lower surface (outside) White 155C with Red-Purple 70B overtones pronounced as flower begins to open and then fading as flower completely opens. [0076] Shape.Broadly ovate, abruptly cuneate at junction with receptacle. [0077] Veins.Non-distinct. [0078] Margins.Somewhat ruffled with occasional notching at the apex. [0079] Texture.Soft. [0080] Receptacle.Length 8 mm; width 6 mm; color Green 143D. [0081] Pedicel.Length 18-22 mm; width 2 mm; color Green 143D when pubescent; Reddish tones 58A as pubescence is lost as pedicel matures. [0082] Sepals.5/flower; wedge shaped; sharply pointed; length 6 mm; width 3 mm at widest point (attachment); color Greyed-Green 193B with Reddish Purple tip 58A. [0083] Stamens.18-22 In number. [0084] Anthers.Length 2 mm; width 1.5 mm; color Yellow 3D. [0085] Pollen.Present. [0086] Filaments.Length 5-12 mm, increasing in length as flower matures; width 0.5 mm; color Greyed-Green 193B [0087] Pistil.Held lower than anthers in majority of blossoms, [0088] Ovary.Length 4 mm; width 3 mm; color Green 139B in cross section with Reddish Purple 60A layer under exterior pubescence. [0089] Style.Length 10 mm from fused base to Stigmas; width 1.5 mm at fused base; width 0.4 mm as separated styles; pubescent at point of separation from fused base; color Green 143A. [0090] Stigma.Width 1 mm; color Green 143A. [0091] Pollination requirements: Requires cross-pollination from diploid varieties with overlapping bloom. [0092] Fruit: [0093] Maturity when described.Freshly harvested. [0094] Date of picking.Oct. 26, 2022, in Wayne County NY. [0095] Size.Axial diameter 70-72 mm; Transverse diameter 80-85 mm. [0096] Fruit weight.average 238 g. [0097] Form.Roundish oblate regular. [0098] Cavity.Acuminate medium deep; russet extending out of cavity. [0099] Basin.Shape, depth, width, medium depth, medium width, Symetrical obtuse regular wavy. [0100] Calyx.Closed reflexed. [0101] Skin: [0102] Thickness.Medium. [0103] Tendency to crack.Little. [0104] Stripes.None. [0105] Lenticels.Round shape, 0.02-0.08 mm diameter. [0106] Color.Strong-red, 46A. [0107] Ground color.Typically Greyed-red 180A, when fully colored but ground color can range in small areas from Brownish-orange 172C to Greyed-red 179B. [0108] Flesh: [0109] Aroma.Sweet, aromatic. [0110] Color.Yellow-white 159B. [0111] Texture.Firm, crisp, juicy, and sweet. [0112] Eating quality.Excellent. [0113] Flavor.Indistinguishable from MAIA1. [0114] Core: Medium size. [0115] Bundle area.250 mm.sup.2 . [0116] Bundle.Inconspicuous. [0117] Seed cells.Walls thin, tough. [0118] Seeds: [0119] Number perfect.10. [0120] Number in one cell.2. [0121] Length.9-10 mm. [0122] Breadth.5 mm. [0123] Color.Greyed-orange 165A. [0124] Stem: [0125] Length.23-24 mm. [0126] Width.2.2 mm. [0127] Color.Greyed-yellow 162A. [0128] Use: Fresh market, dessert. [0129] Shipping quality: Good. [0130] Keeping quality: Excellent. [0131] Drought tolerance: Average for domestic apple. [0132] Tree Winter hardiness: Average for domestic apple. [0133] Disease: [0134] Resistance.No known resistance to pathogens.