Apple variety Jonagold de Coster
The Jonagold De Coster strain of Jonagold apple tree characterized particularly by the bright red color of its fruit, the high color percentage of its fruit, and by its freedom from virus infection.
This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apple tree named Jonagold De Coster, sometimes denominated "Decosta".
The new apple variety was discovered in a cultivated orchard located in MOLENBEEK-WERSBEEK, Hageland, Belgium as a spontaneous whole tree mutation of Jonagold (Unpatented). Neither this tree nor its parent had been treated in any manner designed to induce sports.
The new apple tree cultivar was one of the block of apple trees propagated on M9 rootstock with Jonagold budwood. Its most unique characteristic is its desirable fruit color.
With respect to fruit color, Jonagold De Coster exhibits a higher degree of color development than standard Jonagold. Although as the percentage of red color on the fruit increases with the season, the shade of red color remains throughout the season the bright wind red color that standard Jonagold is known for. Its color characteristics may best be summarized in the following Table.
______________________________________
Jonagold
De Coster Jonagored Jonagold
______________________________________
Early color
Similar to Brownish brown-
Light
develop-
Standard red color through-
green to
ment of Jonagold with
out the growing
dark green
fruit some pink to season, darkening
red additional
and redening in
color visible
early September
from July through
early September
Fruit finish
Very bright wine
Dark red to brown
Bright,
color - red tone similar
red; 821 Currant
wine red
shade to standard red to 822 Cardinal
with white
Jonagold with no
red, RHCCL to yellow
brown tones. background
Finish tone is
between 818
Jasper red and
818 Orient red,
RHCCL
Fruit finish
Many fruits Many fruits with
Many
color - %
with 85%-95% 85-95% red color,
fruits
red color, some
some apples with 20-
light stripes
blush finish, 30% red
others bold color
stripes stripes
over a
white to
yellow
back-
ground
______________________________________
Rubinstar Daliguy Jonica
______________________________________
Early color
Starts very Light green Light green
develop-
early- at the
dark green
ment of end August in
fruit a brownish way
Fruit finish
Transforms from
Bright wine- Brown to
color - brown into dark
red with pink-red
shade red white to
yellow back-
ground
Fruit finish
Many fruits Many fruits Many fruit
color - %
with 90-100% with 30-40% colors
red color red color with 70%
stripes over in a pink-
a white to red.
yellow back- Others stay
ground with brownish
more inten- pink red
sity than
standard
______________________________________
RHCCL -- Royal Horticultural Colour Chart of London
With respect to virus, both the budwood and rootstock of the original mutation were controlled by the N.A.K.B. of Holland and labeled as virus free. The current scion wood in the U.S.A. also is virus free, as certified by the Washington State Department of Agriculture.
The new apple tree variety has been asexually propagated through three generations and its new characteristics shown to be stable and reproducible.
The three generations have been asexually propagated through T-budding and benchgrafting onto certified virus-free rootstocks. The trees of the first, second and third generation and 10,000 control trees in their second leaf in an orchard at Dronten, Holland have been controlled individually by the staff of the Belgian National Research Station, the Dutch Fruit Advisory Team, and the staff of the Dutch Government Research Bureau.
More than 150,000 trees produced apples in 1991 in orchards planted in Belgium, The Netherlands, France, and North, South and Eastern Germany. All the apples so produced were checked and found to be of uniform and stable color.
Also, the trees have been planted and observed in all of the research stations supervising apple variety trials in Europe. These stations are located in Velm, Belgium; Wilhelminadorp, Zeewolde, Numansdorp, Horst, Geldermalsen, The Netherlands; York, Ahrweiler, and Bavendorf, Germany; Haidegg, Austria; Laimburg, Italy; Angers, Marsillarges, France, and elsewhere in the world. In all of these stations Jonagold De Coster has been named among the best mutations of Jonagold.
IN THE DRAWINGSFIG. 1 is a view of the Jonagold De Coster apple tree variety of my discovery shown as it was discovered between a pair of standard Jonagold apple trees of the same stock, growing in the same block of trees.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the new variety, illustrating the manner in which it was grown in Belgium, slender spindle fashion, with wide branch angles.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating the appearance and color of the mature fruits of the new apple tree variety.
FIG. 4 is a comparative display of the fruits of the new apple variety in a mature state comparing them, with particular reference to color, with the standard Jonagold apple variety and the Jonagored apple variety in the same mature state.
FIGS. 5 and 6 are elevational and sectional views, respectively of the new variety.
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are detailed views of the reference Jonagold strains, Jonagored, Rubinstar and Jonica.
FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are comparative displays illustrating the appearance of the new apple variety in comparison with that of the reference Jonagold mutations Jonagored, Rubinstar and Jonica.
In greater detail, the characteristics of the newly discovered Jonagold De Coster apple tree variety are as follows:
Tree: Upright, rather vigorous with wide spreading branches, medium in size, not as strong as Golden Delicious.
Bearing habit.--Medium size, regular annular bearer, highly productive.
Trunk.--Thick, upright, smooth, gray color.
Branches.--Moderately thick, strong wide angles, very spreading, smooth gray bark.
Leaves.--Very large, medium to dark green with green veins.
Spurs.--Strong, closely set.
Bark.--Gray, a somewhat lighter shade than standard Jonagold. This contrasts with the bark of the Jonagored variety which is a darker shade of brown than that of standard Jonagold.
Lenticels.--Gray, obscure.
Disease status.--Virus free; susceptible to scab and mildew.
Vigor.--The same as standard virus-free Jonagold. This compares with the vigor of Jonagored which is 15-30% less than standard due to the expression of apple rubbery wood virus.
Productivity.--Same as virus free Jonagold, but greater than Jonagored.
Pollination.--Bloom is mid-season. The variety is triploid with sterile pollen. Can be pollinated by: Alkmene, Benoni, Cox's Orange Pippin, Delcorf, Discovery, Elan, Elise, Elstar, Fiesta, Gala, Gloster, James Grieve, Lombarts Calville, Melrose, Rafzubin, Vista Bella, Zoeta Oranje.
Fruit:
Shape.--Large fruit, high conical shape with the thickest point at half of the height, often leaning over going to the calyx end, very slightly ribbed.
Stem.--Long, 25 to 35 mm, thin.
Cavity.--Medium, obtuse, broad, shallow, light russet on some.
Calyx.--Large to medium large, closed, quite shallow.
Lobes.--Medium, broad, obtuse.
Basin.--Medium, wide obtuse, furrowed.
Skin.--Smooth, glossy, medium thickness and toughness.
Color.--Uniform bright wine red up into calyx and cavity, background color is yellow to light red, uniform pink-reddish nature begins in July covering a major portion of the fruit (80-95%) with finishing tone appearing in early September.
Lenticels.--Numerous, tan, obscure, almost invisible, very small points.
Calyx tube.--Long, narrow, funnel-shaped.
Stamen.--Median.
Core.--Small and round, closed.
Seeds.--Large, wide, tan to auburn.
Flesh.--White-yellow to yellow, firm, crisp, medium texture, juicy, sweet to aromatic-sour taste with outstanding flavor.
Quality.--Very good to excellent.
Storage.--Can be stored in regular cold storage until January and in ultra-low oxygen storage until July.
Further comparisons of the characteristics of my new apple variety Jonagold De Coster with standard Jonagold and the more significant Jonagold mutants, Jonagored, Rubinstar, Daliguy and Jonica (Schneica) are tabulated as follows:
TABLE I
______________________________________
Tree Jonagold De Coster
Jonagored
______________________________________
growth upright vigorous
rather vigorous
Bearing habit
regular annual bearer
regular annual bearer
Trunk and moderately thick
moderately thick
branches No spur growth
bark color
grey dark brown
vigor same as standard VF
Jonagored grows
5-10% more than
standard VF
productivity
100% 90%
______________________________________
Tree Standard VF Jonagold
Rubinstar
______________________________________
growth upright less upright
less vigorous much less vigorous
Bearing habit
tendency to biannual
regular annual bearer
Trunk and moderately thick
thin
branches
bark color
dark grey very dark grey
vigor virusinfected grows
10% less than
Standard VF
productivity
100% 80%
______________________________________
Tree Daliguy Jonica
______________________________________
growth upright less upright
less vigorous much less vigorous
Bearing habit
tendency to biannual
regular annual bearer
Trunk and moderately thick
tin
branches
bark color
dark grey grey
vigor same as VF grows
Standard VF 10% less than
Standard VF
productivity
90% 80%
______________________________________
TABLE II
______________________________________
PICKING DATE
% FIRST PICK
______________________________________
Jonagold De Coster
9.19.1990 65.8
Jonagored 9.19.1990 61.8
Standard Jonagold
9.19.1990 20.0
Rubinstar 9.24.1990 86.5
Daliguy 9.19.1990 30.0
Jonica 9.26.1990 60.9
______________________________________
TABLE III
______________________________________
Fruit Jonagold De Coster
Jonagored
______________________________________
Shape not as large more
very large
uniform in size not uniform
globose conical size
oblongconical
Stem long long
Calyx quite shallow shallow
closed some half-open
Cavity broad rather small
medium deep medium to
little deep
Skin smooth smooth
Color uniform wine-red
dark red to
background green
purple
to yellow when little to no
ripe little background
striping striping
Lenticels numerous numerous
Calyx tube long narrow long narrow
Core small and round small and
round
Seeds large wide large wide
Flesh white yellowish yellowish
______________________________________
Fruit Standard Jonagold
Rubinstar
______________________________________
Shape large smaller
not uniform in size
more uniform in
size
globose conical flat globose
Stem Long medium long
Calyx shallow quite shallow
some half-open some half-open
Cavity broad broad
medium to deep medium deep
Skin smooth very smooth
Color tomato red with a
unform dark
green to yellow red with very
background little green
little stripes background
Lenticels less less
Calyx tube not so long narrow
long narrow
Core small and round not small, and
flat
Seeds large wide very small and
very thin
Flesh yellowish yellowish
______________________________________
Fruit Daliguy Jonica
______________________________________
Shape large rather large
not uniform in size
not uniform
globose conical in size
flat globose
Stem long medium long
Calyx shallow shallow
some half-open closed
Cavity broad rather small
medium to deep medium to
little deep
Skin smooth very smooth
Color intense tomato red
dull brown red
with a green to to pink red
yellow background
with green
to yellow
background
Lenticels less less
Calyx tube not so long, narrow
short wide
Core small and round not small and
flat
Seeds large wide very large,
very wide
Flesh yellowish white yellowish
______________________________________
TABLE IV
______________________________________
Blooming period
muta- 1989 1990 1991
tion A B C A B C A B C
______________________________________
Jona- 5/02 5/05 5/14 4/12 4/16 5/09 4/17 4/26 5/13
gold
De-
Coster
Jona- 4/20 4/29 5/14 4/11 4/15 5/08 4/16 4/23 5/09
gored
Jonica
4/19 5/02 5/15 4/11 4/17 5/07 4/15 4/23 5/08
Rubin-
4/19 5/02 5/14 4/11 4/16 5/08 4/17 4/23 5/09
star
______________________________________
A: bloom start
B: full bloom
C: end of bloom
TABLE V
______________________________________
Trunk growth in cm on rootstock M9
Planting
Mutation
date 1989 1990 1991 total
______________________________________
Jonica 1988 3.22 1.65 3.41 8.28
Jonagored
replanted 2.18 1.49 3.63 7.30
1988
Rubinstar
replanted 1.16 1.30 2.84 5.30
1988
Jonica replanted 0.97 1.34 2.84 5.15
Jonagold
1989 2.56 2.22 3.46 8.24
De Coster
______________________________________
Trunk diameter is measured 30 cm above the ground.
TABLE VI
______________________________________
Taste
Total value for internal:
2 .times. aroma + 2 .times. sour-sweet propor-
characteristics
tion + 2 .times. firmness + 2 .times. juiciness
Sour-Sweet
Firm- Total
Mutant Aroma proportion
ness Juiciness
Value
______________________________________
Jonica 5,48 .+-.
5,87 .+-. 0,41
5,88 .+-.
6,36 .+-. 0,42
47,19 .+-.
0,44* 0,33 2,57
Decoster
5,65 .+-.
6,26 .+-. 0,41
6,32 .+-.
6,25 .+-. 0,49
48,96 .+-.
0,41 0,34 2,62
Rubinstar
5,39 .+-.
6,0 .+-. 0,40
6,09 .+-.
6,43 .+-. 0,42
47,83 .+-.
0,41 0,38 2,38
Jonagored
5,30 .+-.
5,43 .+-. 0,45
5,68 .+-.
5,67 .+-. 0,44
44,17 .+-.
0,40 0,38 2,56
______________________________________
TABLE VII
______________________________________
Surface Color
Group Mutant Identification Mark
______________________________________
Group 1 Jonica Bright-red blush with
green ground color
Group 2 De Coster Group in between from
bright-red to dark-red
with green ground color
Group 3 Jonagored Dark-red; little to no
green ground color
______________________________________
TABLE VIII
______________________________________
COMPARISON OF JONAGOLDMUTANTS
(Selective sample of 5 apples)
______________________________________
Appearance: * Color:
Jonica: uniform colored, dull brown red,
the color changes gradually from
green to red, the green side is
green over the whole length.
Jonagored:
dark red to purple, striped,
almost no green color, change
from green to red is very diffuse.
Rubinstar:
uniform dark red, little green
ground color, change from green
to red is diffuse.
DeCoster:
between bright and dark red,
lightly striped, change from red
to green is diffuse and not over
the whole length.
Lenticels:
DeCoster & Jonagored have many
lenticels;
Rubinstar and Jonica have a
moderate number of lenticels.
Shape: Jonica and Rubinstar are rounded
quadrangular;
Jonagored:
asymetrical
DeCoster:
a little higher, a little
sloping.
Average number of pips:
Jonica: 3,0
Jonagored: 2,6
Rubinstar: 4,0
DeCoster: 2,6
Diameter of core:
Jonica: 2,76 cm
Jonagored: 2,88 cm
Rubinstar: 3,18 cm
DeCoster: 3,0 cm
Jonagored
Height Width Height/Width
72,84 82,02 0,89
66,09 75,31 0,88
69,70 77,22 0,50
76,77 84,12 0,91
74,01 78,95 0,94
0,90 = Average
Dark red to purple-red colored
striped coloring
little to no green ground color
nose mostly red colored
many lenticels.
Rubinstar
Height Width Height/Width
78,24 80,86 0,97
69,72 75,92 0,92
74,64 81,60 0,91
78,13 78,76 0,99
75,98 78,93 0,96
0,95 = Average
Dark red (in 1991 less dark than in 1989 and 1990)
homogeneously colored
little to no green ground color
moderate number of lenticels.
DeCoster
Height Width Height/Width
67,07 71,52 0,94
73,50 75,60 0,97
69,38 78,78 0,88
68,86 75,16 0,92
67,15 79,25 0.85
0,91 = Average
Between bright red and dark red
striped coloring
much surface is green colored
at one side less high
many lenticels.
Jonica
Height Width Height/Width
68,48 73,05 0,94
72,46 75,69 0,96
70,94 74,77 0,95
68,82 74,56 0,92
72,32 79,26 0,91
0,94 = Average
Bright red
homogeneously colored
moderate number of lenticels
nose may be green
much surface is green colored.
______________________________________
(Source: Gegevens van de Nationale Proeftuin voor Grootfruit, SintTruiden
In summary, the unique characteristics of my newly discovered apple tree variety Jonagold De Coster are as follows:
The unique and striking color of the fruit, between dark and bright red.
Its original and continued virus free-status.
A high percentage of early first pick.
A vigorous and highly productive tree growth habit, creating a large tree volume with a very large potential fruit-bearing surface, which is well used.
Good fruit storage properties.
Superior fruit flavor.
Claims
1. The new and distinct variety of apple tree as described and illustrated characterized particularly by the unique color of its fruit, by its unique virus free condition from inception, and characterized further by its high percentage of early first pick, a vigorous and highly productive tree growth habit, good fruit storage properties, and superior fruit flavor.
| PP5937 | April 14, 1987 | Monen-De Costes |
| PP6148 | April 12, 1988 | Ligonniere |
| PP7146 | February 13, 1990 | Schneider |
| PP7590 | July 16, 1991 | Lichtenauer |
- Goddrie, P. D., et al., Jonagold Color Varieties, Proefstation Voor de Fruittelt, Wilhelmindorp, Belgium, Nov. 1990, 24 pages.
Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 29, 1990
Date of Patent: Dec 1, 1992
Assignee: The De Coster Group (Molenbeek-Wersbeek)
Inventor: Georges M. Swillen (Wersbeek)
Primary Examiner: James R. Feyrer
Attorney: Eugene D. Farley
Application Number: 7/619,447
