Apple tree named ‘Starapple1’

Abstract

Starapple1 is new apple tree variety that in combination can be distinguished from other apple varieties by its percentage and intensity of red over-color; intense flavor with high sugar:acid ratio and balanced eating quality; red bleeding into the flesh at harvest; and scab resistance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree having the characteristics substantially as described and illustrated herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photographs illustrate the appearance of the new apple tree in production, fruit and internal quality of the fruit. The color of the photographs might vary slightly compared to the variety description, however the botanical description is the more accurate description of the true color of this new variety.

(2) FIG. 1. Photograph of a central axis cut of fruit showing the flesh color with contrasting bleeding into the flesh close to the skin.

(3) FIG. 2. Photograph showing a tree of this new variety, typically in production in an orchard.

(4) FIG. 3. Photograph of a fully developed fruit, close-up, on a tree grown in an orchard, showing the color development and shape of the fruit of this new variety

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(5) The photographs and botanical description are taken from trees grown in the Koue-Bokkeveld region near Ceres in the Western Cape, South Africa. The farm is situated in a main apple growing area and general commercial orchard practices are applied to the trees. The climate is temperate continental with low temperatures during winter and high temperatures during summer. The soil type is sandy rock with a micro-jet irrigation system. The photographs and description are believed to apply to plants of the variety grown elsewhere under similar soil and climate conditions.

(6) The detailed botanical description is taken from over two fruiting seasons of trees budded on a standard apple rootstock. The trees were five years old when the first observations were made. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical plants and plant parts. The actual measurements of any individual plant or plant part, or any group of plants or plant parts, may vary from the stated average. Reference to colors are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart, 5th Edition, 2007. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.Trees have a spreading growth habit reaching a height of 3 m and spread of 1.5 m. Trees were planted at a distance of 4 by 1.5 m. Bearing on both spurs and long shoots. Tree type.Ramified. One-year-old shoot.Shoot thickness: Medium, 50-58 mm. Length of internodes: Long, 33-37 mm. Color on sunny side: Dark Brown (166A). Pubescence: Present. Number of lenticels: Present, medium; 30 per 5 cm shoots with a shoot thickness of 5 mm. The shape of the lenticels is oval; the height is 1.3 mm; the width is 1.1 mm; and the color is 116D. Trunk description.Diameter: 54-64 mm (10 cm above the soil). Texture: Woody. Color: 174B. Branch description.Length: 80-100 cm. Diameter: 22-24 mm. Internode: 50-70 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: 177B. Angle of attachment: 40-60 from horizontal. Branch habit: Spreading Angle of attachment 40-60 from horizontal. Leaf description.Leaf arrangement: Single, alternate, spiral. Leaf attitude: Upwards to outwards in relation to the shoot. Length: Medium length, 97-105 mm. Width: Narrow width, 50-52 mm. Length width ratio: Large, 1.9-2.1. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Wedge-shaped. Margin: Serrate to slightly bi-serrate. Texture upper surface: Smooth. Texture lower surface: Woolly, rough, pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate to reticulate towards leaf edge. Color for developing and fully-developed leaves upper surface: N137C. Color for developing and full developed leaves upper surface: Venation pattern 145B. Color for developing and full developed leaves lower surface: 146B. Color for developing and full developed leaves lower surface: Venation pattern 149D. Pubescence: Present, Medium on the lower side. Petiole extent of anthocyanin coloration from the base: Small-medium; Quarter of the petiole length; Anthocyanin color, N74B. Petiole length: Medium, 33-37 mm. Petiole diameter: 1.5-1.9 mm. Texture upper surface: Slightly woolly. Texture lower surface: Smooth. Petiole color: Upper surface, 143B. Petiole color: Lower surface, 149D. Stipule.Number: 2. Shape: Elongated, pointed. Length: 5.5-7.8 mm. Width: 0.7-1.2 mm. Color: 139C green group. Flower description: Flower type and flowering habit.Small flower with medium pink color when unopened; flowers arranged in clusters, facing outward. Fragrance.Slight, honey. Natural flowering season.Beginning of flowering: Medium, 3.sup.rd to 4.sup.th week of September (Koue Bokkeveld, Ceres). Inflorescence height.37-42 mm. Inflorescence diameter.54-58 mm. Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.Mostly 5, in 10% of clusters. Flower diameter.32-42 mm. Flower depth (height).14-16 mm. Flower longevity on plant.6-8 days. Buds.Shape: Oval, elongated. Length: 9-11 mm just before opening. Diameter: 8-10 mm just before opening. Color: white (NN155D) with pink (N74B, 30-50%). Petals.Intermediate arrangement of petals, mostly free. Quantity of petals: 5. Petal length: 18 mm. Petal width: 10-11 mm. Petal shape: Oblong obovate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal base: Wedge-shaped. Petal margin: Smooth, entire. Petal texture upper: Smooth, satiny. Petal texture lower side: Smooth. Petal color upper: 115D. Petal color lower: 155D with red N74B (20-30% pink, mainly veins). Sepals.Quantity: 5. Arrangement: Free, curled. Length: 6-7 mm. Width: 3-4 mm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acuminate (slight red). Base: Truncate. Texture: Hairy, with pubescence on upper and lower side. Color: 193B On upper and lower side. Margin: Entire with pubescence. Pedicels.Length: 13-155 mm. Diameter: 1.3-1.8 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: 45-90 from stem. Texture: Hairy. Color: Green 146C (tinged with red 177B). Reproductive organs: Stamens quantity: 11-18 per flower. Filament length: 5-7 mm. Anther length: 1.9-2.5 mm. Anther shape: bi-lobed, oblong. Anther color: 1D-1C. Pollen amount: Average scarce. Pollen color: 160A (dried). Pistils quantity: 5. Pistil length: 9.5-11 mm. Stigma color: 150C. Style length: 7.5-8.5 mm. Style color: 145C. Ovary length: 5.6 mm. Ovary color: 143A. The tree is Scab Resistant (Vf-gene) and susceptible to Mildew. Fruit description: Ripening time.Typically early, End of February, in South Africa, after Gala. Yield.Moderate, 50 kg per tree. Use.Fresh. Fruit.Length/height: Long, 61-63 mm. Diameter: Medium, 66-72 mm. Weight: 170 g. Shape: Ovoid. Depth of eye basin: Medium, 11-12 mm. Width of eye basin: Narrow, 22 mm. Fruit stalk.Diameter: Medium, 3.6-41. mm. Color: Green 151A. Length: 15 mm. Thickness: 3.6-4.1 mm. Stalk and cavity depth: 10-14 mm. Stalk cavity diameter: 22 mm. Fruit skin.Color: Yellow ground color, 2C. Over color: Dark red, 187B on sunny side, 46A background of fruit; degree of over-color: 60-100%. Solid flush with weak stripes and medium width of stripes. Absent or small area of fruit russet around stalk attachment, on cheeks or around eye basin. Lenticels.Number: Slightly prominent, 4-7 lenticels/cm.sup.2. Size of lenticels: length, 1.2 mm; width, 1 mm. Color of lenticels: White 155C. Flesh texture.Crisp, firm. Flesh color.Cream pinkish 11D with red coloration under skin 185B. Locules.Number per locule: 1-2. Length: 8-10 mm. Width: 6-7 mm. Shape: Fully open in cross section aperture. Seeds.Quantity: Ranging from 2 to 8 per fruit depending on environmental conditions. Length: 10-12 mm. Width: 4.8-5.8 mm. Diameter: 2.5-3.3 mm. Shape: Elliptical, asymmetrical. Color: Brown, 166B. Fruit retains good quality during shipping for a period of 8 weeks at 1 C.