Pioneer Mac

Apple

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Summerland McIntosh' and 'Spartan'

Summary: 'Pioneer Mac' is an apple variety which has a significantly higher number of lenticels on the one year old shoots than either of the reference varieties. The bud support of 'Pioneer Mac' is moderately large whereas it is moderately small in both 'Summerland McIntosh' and 'Spartan'. The fruit of 'Pioneer Mac' is significantly smaller in diameter with a lower average fruit weight than either of the reference varieties. 'Pioneer Mac' tends to have a higher amount of over colour than 'Summerland McIntosh'. 'Pioneer Mac' has a shorter, thicker fruit stalk than either 'Summerland McIntosh' or 'Spartan'. The flesh of 'Pioneer Mac' is slightly firmer than 'Summerland McIntosh' but softer than 'Spartan'. 'Pioneer Mac' has a higher percentage of sugars in the juice than either reference variety. 'Pioneer Mac' fruit matures at the same time as 'Spartan', about 10 days later than 'Summerland McIntosh' in the Okanagan Valley.

Description:

'Pioneer Mac' is an apple variety which produces trees with a spreading growth habit. The major fruit load is borne on the shoots. One year old shoots have moderately shiny, dark brown bark, medium pubescence on the upper half and very many small to medium sized lenticels. The bud tips are pointed and the buds are adpressed to the shoot with a moderately large bud support. In cross section the shoot tip leaves are concave and have a moderate amount of pubescence on the upper side. The lower side of the shoot tip leaves is green with purple around the margins and on the petiole. The fully expanded leaves of 'Pioneer Mac' are medium sized and oriented upwards. The apex is cuspidate, the margins are crenate and the upper side is medium to dark green and moderately glossy. The lower side of the leaf is strongly pubescent. The stipules are small. 'Pioneer Mac' flowers early and has pinkish purple flower buds. The flowers are single with overlapping petal margins. The petals are white on the upper side and purplish white on the lower side.

'Pioneer Mac' produces large fruit that are symmetrical and globose in shape. There is no ribbing. Crowning at the distal end is weak. The eye is small with a half open aperture. The sepals are short to medium in length and are overlapping at the base. The eye basin of 'Pioneer Mac' is moderately shallow and narrow to medium in width. The fruit stalk is short and medium in thickness. 'Pioneer Mac' has a shallow and moderately narrow stalk cavity. The surface of the fruit is smooth and the skin is glaucous, waxy and thick. The ground colour of the fully mature fruit is green and there is a moderately high amount (approximately 80%) of dark red over colour in a blush pattern. There is no russet on 'Pioneer Mac'. The lenticels are small and inconspicuous. 'Pioneer Mac' has greenish yellow coloured flesh and in cross-section the core line is weakly distinct. The locules are open. 'Pioneer Mac' matures mid-season and has a medium fruit setting. At maturity the seeds are brown and normal in shape. Browning of the flesh is very strong one hour after being cut. The fruit flesh is fine in texture, juicy and moderately soft. Sugar content in the fruit juice is high.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Pioneer Mac' originated as an open pollinated seedling of McIntosh which was discovered in 1976 at Pioneer Fruit Farms, Marlboro, New York.

Tests & Trials: Test and trials for 'Pioneer Mac' were conducted by the okanagan Plant Improvement Co. Ltd. at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland, British Columbia during 2001 and 2002. The trials consisted of 32 trees of the candidate and four trees of each reference variety, planted on M4 rootstock. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 20 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Pioneer Mac' with reference varieties 'Summerland McIntosh' and 'Spartan'

Leaf length (mm)

Leaf width (mm)

Petiole length (mm)

Flower diameter (mm)

Fruit diameter (mm)

Fruit weight (g)

Total sugars in fruit juice (%)