APPLE TREE NAMED 'J. LINCOLN'

Abstract

J. Lincoln is a new apple tree distinguished by its resistance to the disease fire blight, and its flavorful fruit, which is well-suited for hard cider production.

Claims

1. A new and distinct apple tree variety named J. Lincoln, as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety as depicted in color as nearly true as is reasonably possible. The photographs of the J. Lincoln variety were taken in the years 2021 and 2023 in Cornish, Maine.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a photograph of a J. Lincoln apple tree in winter;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a photograph of apples from a J. Lincoln apple tree;

[0009] FIG. 3 is a photograph of apples on a branch of a J. Lincoln apple tree;

[0010] FIG. 4 is a detailed photograph of an apple from a J. Lincoln apple tree; and

[0011] FIG. 5 is a photograph of a blossom of a J. Lincoln apple tree.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0012] Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (6.sup.th Ed. 2015, reprinted 2019). The characteristics described will vary somewhat, depending upon cultural practices and climatic conditions, as well as with location and season. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of a number of measurements taken from the described plant. The measurements of any individual plant or any group of plants of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

[0013] The following detailed botanical description was recorded in Cornish, Maine USA during the 2021 growing season. The trees were planted in 2018 and grown on Bud-118 rootstock (not patented).

[0014] Disease Resistance/Susceptibility: Resistant to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora), mildly susceptible to apple scab (Venturia inaequalis). The variety is cold-hardy to at least zone 4b/5a. [0015] Tree: [0016] Vigor.Moderate. [0017] Type.Free standing, ramified. [0018] Habit.Spreading. [0019] Bearing.On shoots and spurs. [0020] Age.5 years. [0021] Size.8 feet tall. [0022] Spread of mature tree.51 inches. [0023] Trunk: [0024] Reference tree diameter.At 2 feet above the ground: 1.25 inches. [0025] Bark color.Greenish gray 152A. [0026] Bark texture.Medium smooth when young, rough and shaggy on older original tree. [0027] Lenticel length.0.04-0.12 inches. [0028] Lenticel width.0.04 inches. [0029] Lenticel shape.Oblong. [0030] Lenticel color.157B. [0031] Lenticel density.12 per square inch. [0032] Branches (fruiting branches sized approximately 0.625 inches at 40 inches above graft union): [0033] Branch characteristics.Typically thin to medium with frequent fruit spurs on second year wood. [0034] 3 year old.0.75 inches in diameter, branch angle 80?; Color 177B. [0035] 2 year old.0.5 inches in diameter, branch angle 75?; Color 177B. [0036] 1 year old.0.25 inches in diameter, branch angle 80?; Color 201C. [0037] Leaves: [0038] Length.2.56-3.35 inches. [0039] Width.1.4-1.7 inches. [0040] Texture.Leathery. [0041] Color.The top of the leaf is green 137B with orange/copper 152C around the edges, occurring in May. The bottom of the leaf is green 138B. [0042] Form.Ovate. [0043] Apex.Acute. [0044] Adaxial surface pubescence.None. [0045] Abaxial pubescence.Finely pubescent. [0046] Margin.Serrate. [0047] Petiole color.149A. [0048] Petiole length.0.8-1.2 inches. [0049] Petiole width.0.08-0.12 inches. [0050] Leaf buds: [0051] Length.0.2-0.28 inches. [0052] Width.0.12-0.24 inches. [0053] Placement on branch.Alternate. [0054] Intermode distance.0.8-1.2 inches. [0055] Color.Greyed-purple 187A. [0056] Spurs: Present on 2 yr and older wood. [0057] Length.Varies from 0.8-3.9 inches. [0058] Width.0.2-0.31 inches. [0059] Flowers at balloon stage: [0060] Bud shape.Ovate. [0061] Quantity per spur.0.12-0.2 inches. [0062] Average size.0.47 inches long. [0063] Pedicel.Length 0.8-1 inch; width 0.2-0.28 inches. [0064] Bloom.Mid/late season, similar to Macoun, typically mid-May in Cornish, Maine. [0065] Sepals.5 sepals, color 138B on both sides, 0.2-0.28 inches in length, 0.12-0.16 inches in width, wide at the base and tapering to a point. [0066] Blossom (1.2-1.6 inches): [0067] Petals.5 per flower. [0068] Petal shape.Ovate. [0069] Petal length.0.9 inches. [0070] Petal width.0.7 inches. [0071] Petal apex shape.Obtuse. [0072] Petal base shape.Rounded to slightly cordate. [0073] Petal texture.Smooth to rugulose. [0074] Petal color.White (NN155D) with a trace of 48C on both sides. [0075] Pistils: [0076] Length.0.35 inches. [0077] Quantity.About 4 to 6 per flower. [0078] Color.Green-white 157C with yellow-green 144C near the stigma. [0079] Stigma: [0080] Diameter.0.08 inches. [0081] Color.Yellow-green 144C. [0082] Style: [0083] Diameter.0.028 inches. [0084] Color.Yellow-green 144C. [0085] Ovary: [0086] Length.0.15 inches. [0087] Diameter.0.05 inches. [0088] Color.Yellow-green 144C. [0089] Stamens: [0090] Quantity.20. [0091] Filament length.0.31-0.47 inches. [0092] Anther diameter.0.04 inches. [0093] Anther color.Yellow 10B. [0094] Pollen color.Yellow 10B. [0095] Fruit: [0096] Size.Uniform. [0097] Axial diameter.2.5 inches. [0098] Transverse diameter.3 inches. [0099] Form.Round-oblate, quite symmetrical and evenly proportioned. [0100] Skin.Thin yet strong, smooth and polished. [0101] Color.Flushes of deep vivid red 44A-53A striping over a pale yellow base 10D. Yellow Orange russet 152D radiating from the stem usually not advancing past the shoulder of the fruit. [0102] Fruit flesh color.155B. [0103] Stem.Medium thick, curved, average length of 0.75 inches and average width of 0.12-0.16 mm. [0104] Cavity.Acuminate, somewhat narrow. [0105] Basin.Obtuse with a smooth rim. [0106] Calyx.Closed, lobes flat convergent. [0107] Seeds: [0108] Quantity per fruit.10. [0109] Length.0.28 inches. [0110] Width.0.24 inches. [0111] Shape.Slightly elongated ovate. [0112] Color.Brown 200B. [0113] Use: Hard cider production. [0114] Flavor in hard cider: Has flavors reminiscent of cherry and wild grape. [0115] Harvest date range: Last week of September to first week of October in Cornish, Maine.