Apple Tree Named 'MAIA12'

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of apple tree was identified from a population of seedlings derived from a cross of Honeycrisp and Fuji. The new variety, named MAIA12 is distinct from Honeycrisp as MAIA12 ripens late-August, 1 week before Honeycrisp. Unlike Honeycrisp, MAIA12 is a fast-growing, vigorous tree with long shoots and leaves. MAIA12 is distinct from Fuji as MAIA12 ripens 6 weeks before Fuji. Unlike Fuji, MAIA12 has consistent annual cropping with minimal horticultural inputs. MAIA12 fruit are medium sized, extremely crisp, with simple sweet-tart flavor and long storability.

Claims

1. A new, distinct variety of apple tree named MAIA12, 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. MAIA12 photographs were taken in Canfield, Ohio.

[0007] FIG. 1. Shows that MAIA12 is distinct from Honeycrisp and Fuji in harvest window.

[0008] FIG. 2. Typical fruit of MAIA12 at harvest time.

[0009] FIG. 3. Typical MAIA12 trees bearing fruit in August 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 Fuji male parent; controlled cross made by Greg Miller at Pataskala, Ohio in 1999. [0012] Original seedling tree: [0013] Age.17 years. [0014] Size.15 height, 15 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] Original seedling tree size.18 cm at 15 cm height. [0022] Bark color.Greyed-Green 197B. [0023] Lenticel.Ovate, 3-4 mm. [0024] Lenticel color.Greyed-Yellow 161B. [0025] Lenticel density.6-12 lenticels/cm.sup.2. [0026] Branches: [0027] 3 year old.16-22 mm in diameter, branch angle 70-80; Greyed-Green 197C; typical branch length of 35-50 cm. [0028] 2 year old.14-18 mm in diameter, branch angle 70-80; Grey-Brown N199A; typical branch length of 35-40 cm. [0029] 1 year old.9-10 mm in diameter, branch angle 70-80; Grey-Orange 166A; typical branch length of 25-35 cm. [0030] Leaves: [0031] Size.Length 88-105 mm; width 55-70 mm. [0032] Texture.Leathery, crisp. [0033] Form.Ovate. [0034] Base.Roundly cuneate. [0035] Apex.Acute. [0036] Adaxial surface pubescence.None. [0037] Abaxial pubescence.Lightly pubescent. [0038] Adaxial surface color.Yellow-Green 147A. [0039] Abaxial surface color.Yellow-Green 148B. [0040] Veination.Pinnate, 8-9 major veins, mainly alternate. [0041] Margin.Serrate. [0042] Petiole length.33-36 mm. [0043] Petiole width.2 mm. [0044] Petiole abaxial color.Yellow-Green 144B to Greyed-Purple 185C toward base and abscission layer on larger leaves. [0045] Petiole adaxial surface color.Yellow-Green 144B to Greyed-Purple 185C toward base and abscission layer on larger leaves. [0046] Petiole groove.Very shallow, depth 0.1 mm. [0047] Stipules.Present; 10-15 mm length; 1 mm width; color: Yellow-Green 148B. [0048] Leaf glands.None observed. [0049] Leaf buds: [0050] Length.3-5 mm. [0051] Shape.Both lateral and terminal buds pointed with imbricate scales. [0052] Width.2-3 mm. [0053] Color.Yellow-Green 145A with Greyed-Purple 187A overtones. [0054] Placement on branch.Alternate. [0055] Internode distance.20-30 mm. [0056] Spurs: Present on 2 yr and older wood. [0057] Length.Varies from 10 to 200 mm. [0058] Proportion.Proportion means that for every spur that is 100-200 mm in length, there are 2 spurs that are 50-99 mm in length and 7 spurs that are 10-49 mm in length. 100-200 mm=2. 50-100 mm=4. 10-50 mm=14. [0059] Width.3-5 mm. [0060] Flowers at popcorn stage: [0061] Pedicel.Length 13-20 mm; width 2 mm. [0062] Pedicel color.Green Group 138B. [0063] Bud.Length 8 mm; width 10 mm. [0064] Bud.Shape: Both lateral and terminal buds pointed with imbricate scales. [0065] Bud color.Red-Purple 61B. [0066] Flowers at full bloom: [0067] Bloom time.Blooms with Golden Delicious typically during fourth week of April in northern Ohio. [0068] Bloom period.Approximately 7 days. [0069] Presentation.Showy. [0070] Fragrance.Aromatic. [0071] Fertility.Fertile, sheds pollen as petals abscise. [0072] Number of flowers per cluster.4-6 with 5 typical. [0073] Petals: [0074] Arrangement.Bases overlapping; 5 petals per flower; each petal 15-19 mm length, 12-18 mm width. [0075] Color.Upper surface (inside) White Group NN155B; Lower surface (outside) slightly colored, Red-Purple 63A. [0076] Shape.Broadly ovate, almost circular, wide base. [0077] Veins.Distinct, minor lateral veins at base. [0078] Margins.Smooth edge and continuous. [0079] Texture.Soft. [0080] Receptacle.Length 5 mm; width 3 mm; color Green Group 138B with Red-Purple 61A. [0081] Petal apex.Petal apex predominately rounded with some fluting. [0082] Pedicel.Length 15-17 mm; width 2 mm; color Green Group 138B. [0083] Sepals.5/flower; wedge-shaped, sharply pointed; length 5-7 mm; width 4 mm at widest point; adaxial and abaxial color Green Group 138B with Red-Purple 61A. [0084] Stamens.18-20 in number. [0085] Anthers.Length 3 mm; width 2 mm; color Yellow Group 5D. [0086] Pollen.Present and abundant; color Yellow Group 10B. [0087] Filaments.Length 8-9 mm; width 0.5-1 mm; color Green-White 157B. [0088] Pistil.Held above the anthers in majority of blossoms; color Yellow-Green 145B. [0089] Ovary.Length 4 mm; width 3 mm; color Green Group 143C. [0090] Style.Length 10 mm; styles are fused in bottom 3 mm only; width 0.5 mm; color Green Group 145B. [0091] Stigma.Width 0.5 mm; color Green Group 145B. [0092] Pollination requirements: Requires cross-pollination from diploid varieties with overlapping bloom; will pollinate diploid varieties of overlapping bloom. [0093] Fruit: [0094] Maturity when described.3 month storage. [0095] Date of picking.Sep. 2, 2015. [0096] Size.Axial diameter 76-101 mm; Transverse diameter 25-71 mm. [0097] Fruit weight.Average 234 g. [0098] Form.Roundish, oblate. [0099] Cavity.Acuminate, deep, club-shaped stem, russet extends slightly out of cavity. [0100] Basin.Wide, medium, round, not wavy, slightly asymmetrical. [0101] Calyx.Closed, tight. [0102] Skin: [0103] Thickness.Medium. [0104] Tendency to crack.Little. [0105] Stripes.Red, distinct fine stripes, Red Group 46A. [0106] Lenticels.Non-distinct. [0107] Color.Red Group 45A. [0108] Ground color.Yellow-Green 154D. [0109] Flesh: [0110] Aroma.Sweet, mild. [0111] Locule number per fruit.5. [0112] Color.Green-White 157D. [0113] Texture.Crisp, firm, breaking, juicy. [0114] Eating quality.Excellent. [0115] Core: Slightly open. [0116] Bundle area.1190 mm.sup.2. [0117] Bundle.Inconspicuous. [0118] Axial carpel length.10-12 mm. [0119] Seed cells.Walls thin, tough. [0120] Seeds: [0121] Number perfect.8-10. [0122] Number in one cell.2. [0123] Length.7-8 mm. [0124] Breadth.4-5 mm. [0125] Color.Greyed-Orange 166B. [0126] Stem: [0127] Length.17-25 mm. [0128] Width.2-3 mm. [0129] Color.Greyed-Yellow 160C. [0130] Use: Fresh market, dessert. [0131] Fruit brix.14-19%. [0132] Yield.Approximately 3.5 bushel/tree at 300 trees/acre=1050 bushels/acre annually. [0133] Shipping quality: Good. [0134] Keeping quality: Good 17 weeks in refrigerated storage. [0135] Drought tolerance: Average for domestic apple. [0136] Tree winter hardiness: Average for domestic apple. [0137] Disease: [0138] Resistance.Slight resistance to fireblight (Erwinia amylovora). [0139] Susceptibility.Susceptible to apple scab (Venturia inaequalis), powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha) and other fungal diseases.