Apple tree named ‘BIGBUCKS’

Abstract

BIGBUCKS is a new and distinct variety of Gala apple, selected for its dark red over color on 90-100% of the fruit skin surface with a full blush. It is distinguished from its parent variety Royal Gala (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,121) and other Gala varieties by its unique dark red full blush over color, red coloration of the stalk, and red coloration of the main vein on the lower side of the leaf.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Malus domestica Borkh. apple tree named BIGBUCKS, as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photographs, in combination with the brief description given, illustrate the overall appearance of the new Malus variety BIGBUCKS showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type.

(2) Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of BIGBUCKS.

(3) FIG. 1 shows a typical fruit of BIGBUCKS at harvest time.

(4) FIG. 2 shows a typical fruit of BIGBUCKS 14 days before harvest time (left), compared with a typical fruit of Royal Beaut (unpatented) 14 days before harvest time (right).

(5) FIG. 3 shows the base of the filament of the flower of BIGBUCKS (left), compared with the base of the filament of the flower of Royal Beaut (unpatented) (right).

(6) FIG. 4 shows a typical whole fruit 30 days before harvest of BIGBUCKS (right), showing a dark red stalk, compared with a typical whole fruit of Royal Beaut (unpatented) (left), showing a green stalk.

(7) FIG. 5 shows the difference in color of the fruitlet (7 mm) of Royal Beaut (unpatented) (top), and BIGBUCKS (bottom).

(8) FIG. 6 shows the difference in color of the main vein on the lower side of a typical leaf of BIGBUCKS (left), and Royal Beaut (unpatented) (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(9) The new Malus variety BIGBUCKS has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new variety may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the Apple tree.

(10) Unless otherwise stated, the detailed botanical description includes observations, measurements and values based on 3 year old BIGBUCKS trees grown in the Apple farm in Elgin, South Africa. The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe trees of BIGBUCKS as grown in Elgin, South Africa.

(11) Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from a number of trees of BIGBUCKS. The measurements of any individual tree or any group of trees, of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

(12) All colors are described according to The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart (R.H.S.), (Fifth Edition), except where general colors of ordinary significance are used.

(13) All of the trees of BIGBUCKS, insofar as they have been observed, have been identical in all the characteristics described below. Classification: Botanical.Malus domestica Borkh. Parentage: A naturally-occurring whole-tree mutation of Royal Gala (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,121) in Elgin, South Africa. Propagation: Chip budding. Growing conditions: Light intensities.Full sunlight or slight shade. Temperature.During day, grown in range of 5 C. to 33 C. Fertilization.Standard for Royal Gala (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,121). Growth regulators.None used. Pruning or trimming requirements.Standard for 3 year old Royal Gala (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,121). Tree: Age.Observed trees were 4 years old bearing trees. Vigor.Strong vigor; (similar to Royal Gala (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,121). Form.Ramified. Habit.A semi-upright tree with one trunk and 1 leader; main branches spreading; crown symmetrical. Size at maturity.Height: about 3 m. Spread: about 1.5 m. Branch: Number per tree.About 12. Crotch angle.45 degrees to 90 degrees. Length.730 mm. Diameter.21 mm. Texture.Smooth. Bark color.Grayed-white 156 C. Branch lenticels.1 mm in diameter, round, color Grayed-white 156B and the number is 4-6 per cm.sup.2. Trunk: Height (up to leaders).900 mm. Diameter.83 mm. Texture.At first, smooth with numerous lenticels, then shallow furrows and scaly ridges. Bark color.Grey-green 198C. Lenticels.4 mm-7 mm in length, 1 mm in width, color Grayed-brown 199B. Number per cm.sup.2 is 3. One year old shoot: Internode length.26 mm. Thickness.5 mm. Color.Grey-purple 183B. Pubescence.Moderate at distal half of shoot (same as Royal Gala (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,121)). Lenticels.0.6 mm in diameter, round, color Orange-white 159B and the number is 10-13 per cm.sup.2. Spurs: Shape.Short conical. Length.12-14 mm. Color.Brown 200C. Distance between each spur.About 30 mm. Diameter.About 5 mm. Number of fruit per spur.About 2-4. Leaves: Arrangement.Alternate, simple, petiolated. Length.Medium (90 mm). Width.Very narrow (47 mm). Shape.Narrow Elliptic. Base shape.Truncate. Apex shape.Right Angled. Margin.Serrate. Texture upper surface.Smooth. Pubescence.Upper surface: Absent or very weak. Lower surface: Weak. Attitude in relation to shoot.Upwards. Color.Upper surface: Green, N137C. Lower surface: Green 148B. Main vein.Color of upper side of leaf: Yellow green 144B. Color on lower side of leaf: Red 59A. Petiole: Length.31 mm. Diameter.1.9 mm. Color.Red N77A. Texture.Smooth. Stipule: Arrangement.At base of petiole. Length.9 mm. Width.2 mm. Shape.Narrow elliptic. Color on upper side.Green 147B. Color on lower side.Green 147 B. Inflorescence: Blooming time.Full bloom on about 15 October in Southern Hemisphere. Blooming period.About 10 October to 29 October in Southern Hemisphere. Fragrance.Weak. Number of flowers per inflorescence.6. Flower.Corolla diameter: 44 mm. Flower depth: 12 mm. Petals: Arrangement.Free. Number per flower.Five. Overall shape.Narrow elliptic. Apex shape.Moderately obtuse. Base shape.Acute. Texture (upper and lower surface).Smooth. Margin.Entire, cupped. Color of upper surface.White 155D with tinges of Red 59C. Color of lower surface.White 155D with tinges of Red 59C. Sepals: Number per flower.Five. Shape.Pointed to wedged shape. Color.Yellow Green 145D. Margin.Entire. Length.4 mm. Width.4 mm. Pedicel: Color.Yellow-green 144D. Length.26 mm. Width.2 mm. Texture.Smooth. Pistils: Pistil number.5. Stigma.Length: 1 mm, color: Yellow-green 144B. Style.Length: 3 mm, width: 1 mm, color: Yellow-green 144B. Ovary.Length: 4 mm, width: 1.5 mm, color: Yellow-green 143C. Stamen: Anther color.Yellow 11D. Length.9 mm. Width.0.3 mm. Pollen amount.Abundant. Pollen color.Yellow 11D. Filament.White 159 B. Color at base of filament (after petal drop).Red 59A. Fruit: Maturity when described.Ripe for eating first week of February in Southern Hemisphere. Production.About 5000 Kg per Hectare. Maturity period after full bloom.About 100 days after full bloom. Date of first and last picking (harvest).February 1 to February 15 in Elgin, South Africa (GPS 34.15432 S, 19.047473 E). General shape.Cylindrical-globose. Average weight.145 g. Fruit size.Height: 65.2 mm. Diameter (at widest point): 71 mm. Position of maximum diameter.Middle ( of height). Stalk.Length: 28 mm. Diameter: 2 mm. Color: Red 59B. Stalk cavity.Depth: 15 mm. Width: 32 mm. Eye basin.Depth: 7.6 mm. Width: 32.3 mm. Crowning at calyx end.Moderate. Position of sepals.Partly open. Calyx tube.Funnel form. Skin.Thickness: 0.1 mm. Bloom: Weak. Greasiness: Absent. Firmness (at picking time): 7 to 9 kg/cm.sup.2. Ground color: Not visible. Color of the over color: Red 53A. Percentage of skin surface with over color: 90 to 100%. Pattern of over color: Solid flush. Intensity of over color: Dark. Flesh.Color: Cream yellow 12C. Texture: Crisp and juicy. Sugar content (at picking time): 13 Brix. Acidity/Starch (at picking time) Starch conversion 30%. Core.Symmetry of core: Symmetrical. Distinctness of core lines: Medium. Locules.Number (per fruit): 5. Length: 23 mm. Width: 22 mm. Form: Moderately open. Seed: Number per fruit.8. Number per locule.1-2. Shape.Ovate. Length.7 mm. Width.4.5 mm. Texture.Smooth. Color.Grayed-Orange 177A. Use: Fresh market. Disease/pest resistance: No resistance to Apple Scab (Venturia inaequalis) observed (same as Royal Gala (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,121)). Disease/pest susceptibility: No abnormal susceptibility observed (same as Royal Gala (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,121)). Winter hardiness: No information available in Southern Hemisphere. Drought/heat tolerance: Tolerant to temperatures up to 40 C., growth is limited by drought periods without irrigation. Keeping quality: The fruit can be stored in cold temperature conditions for up to 6 months without losing firmness and juiciness. It has a shelf life up to 2 weeks without losing firmness and juiciness. Shipping/storage characteristics: Not susceptible to bruising (same as Royal Gala (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,121)).