Apple tree `Romagold`
A new variety of apple originating as a spontaneous limb mutation of its parent vairety Jonagold (unpatented) and unique particularly for its over-all, early, broadly striped, red skin color pattern, its tart-like flavor, taste and high dessert quality and otherwise as herein described.
This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apple tree and more particularly to a spontaneous limb-sport mutation of the apple variety commonly known as Jonagold, a non-patented variety.
The discovery was made by the inventor, Mr. Romain Surkijn, in 1983, in one of his cultivated apple orchards located at Betserbaan 40, B-3460, Halen, Belgium.
The mutation appeared as a spontaneous limb-sport in the upper portion of a two (2) year old Jonagold tree (FIG. 1). The inventor (discoverer) was attracted to this new Jonagold sport by the early, broadly striped, bright, red coloring of its fruit (See FIGS. 3 and 5). The winter following this discovery, the inventor collected grafting wood from the sport-limb to use for grafting of second (2nd) generation trees and for topworking. Second (2nd) generation trees were grafted in the spring of 1985. The new cultivar was named "Romagold" for all future reference use (FIG. 2).
Several (6) trees were also top worked in order to speed up the production of second (2nd) generation fruit and to see if this new discovery was stable in the next generation. These grafts produced second (2nd) generation fruit the following fall (1986) and in all succeeding years. Third (3rd) generation fruits have now also been produced and all second (2nd) and third (3rd) generation fruit show the same early unique broadly striped red fruit coloration identical to fruits grown on the original sport limb.
The new Romagold variety has been carefully compared to its parent, the Jonagold variety (unpatented), and to other red Jonagold sport varieties now being grown, including Jonagored (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,937), Daliguy (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,148), Jonica (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,146), Rubinstar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,590) and Jonagold De Coster (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,049).
Fruit skin color, shape, color intensity and other fruit characteristics of the new variety are compared in Table 1 to the varieties listed above, and are hereby further described:
1. The skin color of Romagold takes on a distinctive, and heavily striped pattern heavier and earlier than that of the parent tree, with the stripes being conspicuously a more prominent, darker red in appearance than those of the parent tree and the color sports within the market class. As the fruit advances to the stage of market ripeness, essentially the totality of the remaining unstriped surface of the fruit skin takes on a solid or block red blush, resulting in an essentially solid red apple which has subtle but definite deep red stripes over the attractive red ground color which, with the deep red stripes, covers 75% or more of the total fruit exterior. This results in a fruit which has an enhanced rich dark-red-over-red surface coloration which is frequently preferred by the fresh apple consumer.
2. The above mentioned broad red striped effect is particularly noticeable when Romagold fruit is displayed in packed cartons and or boxes. This color pattern differs distinctively from displays made up of blush (block) colored fruits. The value of this broad bright red striped characteristic is of considerable importance when marketing the fruit since striped red apple fruits are now preferred over blush (block) colored fruits in most world markets.
3. The value of this characteristic is also demonstrated in poor coloring years and in poor coloring apple growing districts. Poorly colored striped apples are always preferred over equally poorly colored solid-red (block) colored fruits.
When comparing Romagold to the other five patented red Jonagold varities the following fruit skin differences were noted:
1. Romagold's broadly striped bright red skin color was distinctive and markedly different from the more over-all solid block colored fruits of Jonagold De Coster, Jonagored and Rubinstar. The finished color of these three clones showed only very slight and/or no striping of fruit skin color at harvest.
2. The finished skin color of fruits of the Daliguy and Jonica varieties often showed a tomato red to dull brown red color characteristic at harvest. This differed distinctly from Romagold's very broad bright red chimera-like stripes.
3. Over-all fruit color percentages were difficult to measure because of the differing fruit coloring characteristics. See Table 1 for estimated percentages of overall red skin color at harvest of all Jonagold red sport varieties tested. However, the new Romagold variety exhibits many more chimera-like stripes than the other Jonagold red sport varieties, which tend to exhibit more of a blush (block) skin coloration.
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ROMAGOLD COLOR COMPARISON TABLE #1
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JONAGOLD
DE COSTER JONAGORED
ROMAGOLD (USPP 8049) (USPP 5937)
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Early color
Begins to color
Similar to Brownish
development
about two Standard brown-red
of fruit weeks ahead of
Jonagold with
color through-
Jonagold mid-
some pink to
out the growing
dle of August in
red additional
season, darken-
Halen, Belgium.
color visible
ing and redden-
Begins to color
from July ing in early
with a heavy
through early
September.
stripe pattern.
September.
Fruit finish
Overall glossy
Very bright Dark red to
color - shade
bright cherry
wine red tone
brown red; 821
red. Produces
similar to Currant red to
more red sur-
Standard Jona-
822 Cardinal
face than Jona-
gold with no
red (RHCCL)
gored, colors
brown tones.
well, even on
Finish tone is
shaded sides of
between 818
fruit. (39-12
Jasper red and
Munsell Color
818 Orient red
chart) (RHCCL)
Finish fruit
75-100% bright
Many fruits Many fruits
color - %
cherry red with
with 85-95% with 85-95%
heavy broad red color, some
red color, some
stripes. light stripes.
apples blush
finish, others
some stripes.
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RUBINSTAR DALIGUY JONICA
(USPP 7590) (USPP 6148) (USPP 7146)
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Early color
Starts very Light green,
Light green.
development
early at the end
dark green.
of fruit of August in a
brownish way.
Fruit finish
Transforms Bright wine red
Brown to
color - shade
from brown with white to
pink-red.
into dark red.
yellow back-
ground.
Finish fruit
Many fruits Many fruits Many fruit
color - %
with 90-100%
with 30-40% colors with
block red color.
red color 70% in a pink
stripes over a
red. Others may
white to yellow
stay brownish
background pink red.
with more in-
tensity than
standard
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Romagold has growth characteristics similar to its parent and to the other five sport clones compared to it. All exhibit an open standard-type (non-spur) growth characteristic. (See Table 2).
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ROMAGOLD TREE COMPARISON TABLE #2
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JONAGOLD
DE COSTER JONAGORED
ROMAGOLD (USPP 8049) (USPP 5937)
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Growth upright, upright rather
vigouous,
vigorous, vigorous, non-spur
non-spur non-spur
Bearing Habit
regular annual
regular annual
regular annual
bearer bearer bearer
Trunk and
medium stock,
moderately moderately
Branches medium thick
thick, no spur
thick
growth
Bark Color
dark grey grey dark grey
Vigor same as same as grows 5-10%
standard standard more than
standard
Productivity
100% 100% 90%
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RUBINSTAR DALIGUY JONICA
(USPP 7590) (USPP 6148) (USPP 7146)
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Growth less upright,
upright, less
less upright,
much less vigorous, non-
much less
vigorous, non-
spur vigorous, non-
spur spur
Bearing Habit
regular annual
tendency to regular annual
bearer biannual bearer
bearing
Trunk and
thin moderately thin
Branches thick
Bark Color
very dark grey
dark grey grey
Vigor virus infected,
same as VF grows 10%
grows 10% less
standard less than
than standard standard
Productivity
80% 90% 80%
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Since Romagold possesses standard non-spur growth characteristics, a variety of tree training methods can be employed, such as:
1. Free standing central leader training with trees on either seedling or the more vigorous dwarfing rootstocks.
2. Central Axis training with either pole or wire support on dwarf type rootstocks.
3. Trellis-type training methods may be employed where more vigorous, non-spur type growth is necessary for proper training on dwarfing type rootstocks.
No noticeable differences have been observed in fruiting habits between Romagold and its parent Jonagold or the other five red Jonagold clones tested. Precocity and response to chemical thinning are similar.
No noticeable significant differences were recorded or observed in fruit size between all of the clones of red Jonagold. There are, however, a number of other differences between the fruit characteristics of the new Romagold variety and the red Jonagold clones, as shown and described in detail in Table 3.
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ROMAGOLD FRUIT COMPARISON TABLE #3
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JONAGOLD
DE COSTER JONAGORED
ROMAGOLD (USPP 8049) (USPP 5937)
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Shape large, uniform,
not as large,
very large, not
round to more uniform in
uniform size,
slightly conical
size, globose
oblong conical
conical
Stem long long medium long
Calyx partly open quite shallow
shallow
Cavity acute, medium
broad, medium
rather small,
deep deep medium to
shallow
Skin smooth, glossy
smooth smooth
Color at almost 100% uniform wine
dark red to
Harvest bright red red background
purple, little
broad strips,
green to yellow
to no back-
some chimeras
when ripe, little
ground striping,
(see Figs. 3 & 4)
striping, mostly
solid block
solid block color appear-
color appear-
ance
ance
Lenticels
small, conspic-
numerous numerous
uous, few &
scattered at
base
Calyx reflexed and
long narrow long narrow
Tube divergent,
broad funnel
form
Core median small and small and
round round
Seeds .5 to 1 cm wide
large wide large wide
obtuse, dark
brown
Flesh creamy white
white yellowish
yellowish
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RUBINSTAR DALIGUY JONICA
(USPP 7590) (USPP 6148) (USPP 7146)
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Shape smaller, more
large, not uni-
rather large,
uniform in size,
form in size,
not uniform in
flat globose
globose conical
size, flat
globose
Stem long medium long long
Calyx quite shallow,
shallow, some
shallow, closed
some half open
half open
Cavity broad, medium
broad, medium
small, medium
deep deep to shallow
Skin very smooth smooth very smooth
Color at uniform dark
intense tomato
dull brown red
Harvest red with very
red with a to pink red with
little green
green to yellow
green to yellow
background, background background
solid block
color appear-
ance
Lenticels
less less less
Calyx long narrow not so long,
short wide, not
Tube narrow small and flat
Core not small small and round
not small
and flat and flat
Seeds very small and
large wide very large,
very thin very wide
Flesh yellowish yellowish white yellowish
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As is common to many super-red sports of red apple cultivars, leaves of Romagold are a slightly darker green color when compared to leaves of its parent variety. The varieties were compared under similar growth conditions, i.e., pruning, nitrogen, water, etc. The difference in green color shade is too slight to determine on the color chart being used.
Similarly, compared to the Jonagold variety, the pinkish red color of some of the leaf petioles and midribs of Romagold are slightly more pronounced and intense than on the leaves of its parent variety. This pinkish-red color often extends further down the midrib.
No bark or tree growth differences have been noted. Surface bloom is formed on the skin of the fruit, but does not differ from surface bloom on other red Jonagold clones tested. Winter hardiness appears to be similar to its parent and the other red Jonagold clones tested. Spring blossom hardiness also appears to be similar. As with Jonagold and the other cultivars tested, the skin of Romagold has shown no russet problems.
The new Romagold variety is free of all 10 known viruses and virus-like diseases, and is resistant to the common fungal and bacterial diseases of apples.
THE DRAWINGSThe accompanying full-color pictures and tables illustrate the new Romagold apple tree and the characteristics of its fruit.
FIG. 1 Shows the sport limb on the original mother tree.
FIG. 2 Shows a three (3) year old second (2nd) generation tree of Romagold growing in the inventor's orchard near Halen, Belgium. Note standard Jonagold parent trees in background.
FIG. 3 Is a close-up view of Romagold fruit showing broad stripes and bright red skin color.
FIG. 4 Shows a color comparison--Romagold v. Jonagold at picking maturity.
FIG. 5 Color photograph showing Romagold's broad, red stripes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETYFollowing is a detailed description of the new variety with color terminology in accordance with the Munsell Color Cascade Chart except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
1. Parentage: A spontaneous limb-sport of the apple variety Jonagold (unpatented).
2. Locality where grown and observed:
Halen, Belgium.
Brogdale Experimental Horticultural Station.
Faversham-Kent, England.
Goren Research Station, Belgium.
Yakima, Wash. U.S.A.
3. Dates of first and last pickings: About September 25 and October 10, respectively, in Halen, Belgium. About September 20 and October 1, respectively, in Yakima, Wash., U.S.A.
4. Tree: Medium large, vigorous, dense foliage, rapid grower, upright.
Trunk.--Medium stocky, smooth, dark-brown (26-15).
Branches.--Medium thick, smooth, stocky, green-brown (23-13).
Lenticels.--Medium size, few, not raised, whitish-grey.
Twigs.--Slender.
Color.--Grey with reddish terminal buds.
5. Leaves: Large, long, medium wide, lanceolate, abruptly pointed, medium thick.
Length.--Average 7.5 cm.
Width.--Average 5.8 cm.
Color.--Green to dark-green (19-13).
Margin.--Moderately serrate.
Petiole.--Medium long (3 cm to 3.5 cm), medium slender.
Pose.--Upward.
Vein.--Pink to red on back side of leaves.
6. Flowers:
Date of first and full bloom.--About April 15 and April 25 respectively in Halen, Belgium. About April 10 and April 21, respectively, in Yakima, Wash., U.S.A.
Size.--Medium large.
Overall color.--Light red (43-8).
Pedicels.--Red.
Sepals.--Green with light-red tips.
Stamens.--Dark red.
7. Fruit:
Maturity when described.--Eating ripe. (Specimens described were grown and observed at Halen, Belgium, and at Yakima, Wash., U.S.A.
Size.--Large, uniform.
Axial diameter.--About 7.5 cm to 8.5 cm.
Horizontal diameter.--About 6.5 cm to 7.5 cm.
Form.--Regular, uniform, round to slightly conical, sides equal, rounded at base.
Cavity.--Acute, medium width, medium depth, symmetrical. reddish-green, very slight russet.
Basin.--Abrupt, symmetrical, five crowned, regular, medium width, medium depth.
Markings.--None.
Stem.--Long, slender (3 cm to 4 cm).
Calyx.--Partly open, calyx lobe persist and separate at base.
Calyx lobes.--Reflexed and divergent.
Pubescence.--Slight.
8. Skin: Smooth, glossy, medium thickness.
Stem cavity.--Reddish-green.
Dot.--Small, conspicuous, few and scattered at base. (FIG. 3).
Suture.--None.
Color.--Broad red chimera-like stripes, almost 100% bright red (39-12) (FIGS. 3 and 4).
Flesh.--Solid, juicy.
Color.--Creamy white.
Texture.--Firm, fine, crisp, tender.
Flavor.--Sweet to sub-acid.
Aroma.--Fruity, distinct.
Quality.--Best.
9. Core: Median.
Bundle area.--Symmetrical, medium small.
Halves of area.--Equal.
Bundle.--Inconspicuous.
Core lines.--Indistinct, meeting, broadly heartshaped.
Cross section.--Indistinct.
Calyx tube.--Broad funnel-form.
Stem (cylinder) of funnel.--Short to medium long.
Depth of tube to shoulder.--Less than 1 cm.
Entire depth.--About 2 to 2.5 cm.
Style.--Present, united at base.
Stamen.--Median, in one whorl.
Seed cell (carpels).--Open, axile, symmetrical, smooth, heart-shaped.
10. Seeds: One or two per cell, not tufted, acute at point, 1 to 1.5 cm long, 0.5 to 1 cm wide, obtuse, dark-brown (32-15).
11. Ploidy: Triploid.
12. Use: Dessert, juice, culinary, fresh market.
13. Keeping quality: Very good, up to 7 months in standard cold storage.
14. Resistance to insects and diseases: Average for scab and mildew. Virus-tested and virus free. Propagation wood available.
15. Winter hardiness: Hardy, same as parent variety.
16. Precosity: Similar to parent (FIG. 2).
Claims
1. A new variety of apple tree substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by its early coloring red fruits which differ from fruits produced by its parent variety Jonagold and from all other known sport varieties of red Jonagold by their distinct broadly striped red color pattern which remains are harvest.
| PP5937 | April 14, 1987 | Moren-De Coster |
| PP6148 | April 12, 1988 | Ligonniere |
| PP7146 | February 13, 1990 | Schneica |
| PP7590 | July 16, 1991 | Lichtenauer |
| PP8049 | December 1, 1992 | Swillen |
- Goddrie, P. D., et al., (1990) Jonagold Color Varieties, Brochure, Fruit Cultivation Test Station, Wilhelminadorp (with English Translation).
Type: Grant
Filed: Sep 15, 1994
Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
Inventor: Romain Surkijn (Halen)
Primary Examiner: James R. Feyrer
Law Firm: Stratton Ballew
Application Number: 8/307,389
