Apple tree named ‘Howell TC3’

A new and distinct apple tree is disclosed. ‘Howell TC3’ is notable for its distinctive fruit, which has yellow skin and red flesh with a sweet/tart flavor.

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Description

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Malus domestica.

Variety denomination: ‘Howell TC3’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of apple tree ‘Howell TC3’ was created in the course of a planned breeding program carried out in Prosser, Wash. ‘Howell TC3’ originated as a result of an open pollination cross in 2001 of ‘Airlie Red Flesh’ (seed parent, not patented) with the likely pollen parent being ‘Honeycrisp’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,197, expired). ‘Howell TC3’ was selected in 2010 as a single plant from among a population of seedlings derived from the parents, and was selected for its quality of fruit and the red color of the fruit flesh. It is distinguished from its parents by its yellow skin and red flesh color and by its flavor. Asexual propagation by budding was first carried out in Prosser, Wash. The variety has since been observed over a number of asexually propagated generations, and has been found to remain true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Howell TC3’ is a new and distinct apple tree notable for its distinctive fruit, which has a red flesh and a sweet/tart flavor. A comparison of ‘Howell TC3’ to related and similar varieties is shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘Howell TC3’ to Related and Similar varieties ‘Airlie's ‘Howell ‘Howell Red Flesh’ ‘Honeycrisp’ TC2’* TC3’ Bloom Color Dark pink White Pink Light pink Bloom Timing −2 days 0 +3 days −1 day Flesh Color Pink Pink Red Red Skin Color Light green Red and green Red Yellow Lenticel Color White White White Light yellow Lenticels/in2 15 to 25 15 to 25 10 to 20 15 to 20 Fruit Maturity +3 days 0 +7 days +4 days Fruit flavor Crunchy, Crisp, very Crisp, juicy, Crisp, juicy, sweet juicy, sweet-tart sweet-tart sweet-tart with berry with berry notes notes Tree Vigor Moderate Non- Non- Moderate vigorous vigorous Fruit in Okay for 2 Stores well Stores well Stores well common storage months for 4 months for 4 months for 4 months

* ‘Howell TC2’—USPP pending, Ser. No. 14/544,404

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

FIG. 1 shows the blossom from the tree of the new cultivar;

FIG. 2 shows the fruit of the new cultivar on the tree; and

FIG. 3 shows the flesh of the fruit of the new cultivar.

 DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed botanical description is based on observations made during the 2013 and 2017 growing seasons at Prosser and Wapato, Wash. All colors are described according to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart as published in 2001. It should be understood that the characteristics described will vary somewhat depending upon cultural practices and climatic conditions, and can vary with location and season. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from a number of individual plants of the new variety. The measurements of any individual plant, or any group of plants, of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

  • Tree:
      • Vigor.—Semi-vigorous.
      • Size.—Height 9 feet; Spread 4 feet.
      • Trunk.—Diameter at 30 cm above graft union 2.54 cm.
      • Bark texture.—Smooth.
      • Bark coloration.—Gray-brown N199D.
      • Trunk lenticels.—Rectangular, length 2 mm, density 13/in2, color white 155D.
  • Branch:
      • Size.—Length 81.3 cm; Diameter 1.27 cm at 1 m above ground.
      • Crotch angle relative to trunk.—60°.
      • Color.—Gray-brown N199D.
      • Branch lenticels.—Round, length 1 mm, density 20/in2, color white 155D.
  • Dormant one-year-old shoot:
      • Size.—Diameter 0.95 cm, length 71.1 cm.
      • Color.—Greyed-orange 166B.
      • Lenticels.—Rectangular, length 0.5 mm, density 16/in2, color white 155B.
      • Internode length.—3.8 cm.
  • Flowers:
      • Bud shape.—Cone.
      • Bud length.—0.95 cm.
      • Bud diameter.—0.48 cm.
      • Color at balloon stage.—Red-purple 62A.
      • Diameter of open flower.—3.81 cm.
      • Petal.—Quantity per flower 5.
      • Margin.—Smooth, ruffled.
      • Relative position of petal margin.—Overlapping.
      • Petal shape.—Obovate with rounded apex, cuneate base.
      • Petal length.—2.54 cm.
      • Petal width.—2.54 cm.
      • Color of upper surface.—Red-purple 62A on edges fading to white 155C in center.
      • Color of lower surface.—Red-purple 62C.
      • Pistil.—1 per flower, length 1.91 cm, color yellow-green 145B.
      • Anther.—21 to 25 per flower.
      • Length—1 mm.
      • Color of pollen.—Yellow 2C.
      • Stigma length.—1 mm.
      • Stigma color.—Yellow-green 145B.
      • Style length.—11 mm.
      • Style color.—Yellow-green 145B.
      • Ovary color.—Green 143A.
      • Bloom period.—First bloom April 22, full bloom April 30 in Prosser, Wash.
  • Pedicel:
      • Length.—25 mm.
      • Diameter.—2 mm.
      • Color.—Yellow-green 147D.
  • Sepals:
      • Quantity.—5.
      • Color.—Upper surface yellow-green 147D, lower surface yellow-green 148D.
      • Length.—12 mm.
      • Width.—5 mm.
      • Shape.—Lanceolate with pointed apex.
      • Margin.—Smooth.
  • Leaf:
      • Shape.—Ovate.
      • Texture.—Upper surface smooth, lower surface veined.
      • Venation.—Pinnate.
      • Attitude in relation to shoot.—Nearly vertical.
      • Blade margin.—Serrated.
      • Apex.—Acuminate.
      • Base shape.—Rounded.
      • Size.—Length 10.2 cm, width 5.7 cm.
      • Color of upper surface.—Yellow-green 146A.
      • Color of lower surface.—Yellow-green 146D.
  • Petiole:
      • Length.—2.86 cm.
      • Diameter.—0.32 cm.
      • Color.—Yellow-green 147D.
  • Stipules:
      • Quantity.—2.
      • Shape.—Lanceolate; Length 15 mm, width 1 mm.
      • Color.—Upper surface yellow-green 147C, lower surface 147D.
  • Fruit:
      • Size.—Diameter 7.62 cm, height 7 cm.
      • Weight.—0.45 lbs.
      • General shape in profile.—Rounded; Ribbing absent.
      • Crowning at calyx end.—Moderate.
      • Eye basin.—Depth 4 mm, width 20 mm.
      • Stalk.—Length 2.54 cm, width 0.32 cm, color yellow-green 145B; Depth of stalk cavity 1.91 cm; Width of stalk cavity 0.64 cm.
      • Lenticels.—Round, diameter 0.8 mm, density 15 to 20/in2, white 155B.
      • Ground color of skin.—Yellow-green 145B fading to yellow 11A.
      • Over color of skin.—Red 44C.
      • Pattern of over color.—Blush; Flesh is crisp and very juicy.
      • Flesh color.—Red 50B with white 155B (See FIG. 3).
      • Brix.—15°.
      • Aroma.—Faint.
      • Quantity of seeds.—8-10.
      • Shape of seed.—Acuminate.
      • Seed size.—Length 10 mm, width 5 mm.
      • Seed color.—Greyed-orange 165A.
      • Locules.—5 per fruit, length 15 mm, width 6 mm.
      • Number of fruit per cluster.—About 5.
  • Harvest: About 4 days after ‘Honeycrisp’.
  • Eating quality: Crisp, juicy, sweet-tart with berry notes.
  • Storage characteristics: Stores well in common storage for 4 months.
  • Winter hardiness: Hardy in areas tested (Prosser and Wapato, Wash.).
  • Disease resistance/susceptibility: None noted.
  • Use: Fresh Market and processing.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Apple tree as illustrated and described.

Referenced Cited
Other references
  • http://read.dmtmag.com/i/146156-august-2013/13 (Good Fruit Grower); Aug. 2013; 2 pages.
Patent History
Patent number: PP28546
Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 31, 2014
Date of Patent: Oct 24, 2017
Patent Publication Number: 20150195968
Inventor: William Edward Howell (Prosser, WA)
Primary Examiner: Kent L Bell
Application Number: 14/544,402
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Apple (PLT/161)
International Classification: A01H 5/08 (20060101);