Huaguan

Apple

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Spartan' and 'Fuji#2'

Summary: 'Huaguan' is an apple variety that produces lower vigour trees than 'Spartan' and 'Fuji#2'. The fruit of 'Huaguan' is smaller than that of the reference varieties. 'Huaguan' has a narrower and more shallow eye basin than 'Fuji#2' and a significantly narrower stalk cavity. There is less glaucosity (bloom) on the skin of 'Huaguan' than the references. 'Huaguan' has a green-yellow ground colour whereas 'Spartan' and 'Fuji#2' have a green ground colour. 'Huaguan' has less overcolour and a higher amount of russet than the reference varieties. The flesh is yellowish, whereas it is white in 'Spartan'. The core line is less distinct in 'Huaguan' than 'Fuji#2'. 'Huaguan' matures very late in the harvest season, up to a month after 'Spartan' in the Okanagan Valley.

Description:

'Huaguan' is a dessert apple variety which produces trees with an upright to spreading growth habit and a low frequency of branching. The trees have weak to moderate vigour. The major fruit load is borne on spurs. One year old shoots have moderately shiny, dark brown bark, strong pubescence on the upper half and many small lenticels. The branches are slightly thin and the internodes are short. The bud tips are pointed and the buds are adpressed to the shoot with a small bud support. In cross section the shoot tip leaves are concave and have no pubescence on the upper side. The lower side of the shoot tip leaves is green with no other colouration. There is no leaf lobing. The fully expanded leaves of 'Huaguan' are moderately small and oriented upwards. The apex is cuspidate, the margins are serrate and the upper side is medium to dark green and weakly glossy. The lower side of the leaf is moderately pubescent. Anthocyanin colouration on the veins is weak. The leaf petioles are moderately long and the stipules are medium in size. Bud burst for 'Huaguan' is mid-season and flowering begins moderately late in the season. The variety has red-purple flower buds and a green pedicel. The flowers are average in size and single with overlapping petal margins. The petals are light to medium purplish pink on the upper side and red-purple fading to white on the lower side. The upper side of the petals fade to white as the flower ages.

'Huaguan' produces medium sized fruit that are symmetrical and globose conical to short globose conical in shape. There is no ribbing. Crowning at the distal end is weak. The eye is small and has a closed aperture. The sepals are moderately short and overlapping. The eye basin of 'Huaguan' is moderately deep and narrow. The fruit stalk is medium in length and thickness and the stalk cavity is narrow and moderately shallow. The surface of the fruit is smooth and the skin is moderately glaucous, with no waxiness and moderate thickness. The ground colour of the fully mature fruit is green-yellow and there is a medium amount (approximately 65%) of red overcolour in a blush and flecked pattern. There is a low amount of russet on 'Huaguan', positioned around the eye basin, stalk cavity and on the cheeks. The lenticels are medium sized and slightly prominent. 'Huaguan' has yellowish coloured flesh and in cross-section the core line is moderately distinct. The locules are closed. 'Huaguan' matures very late (mid to late October in Summerland, British Columbia) and has intermediate fruit setting. At maturity the seeds are dark brown and conical in shape. Browning of the flesh is weak one hour after being cut. The fruit flesh is moderately fine in texture, juicy and firm. Sugar content in the fruit juice is very high.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Huaguan' is the result of a cross between 'Golden Delicious' (female parent) and 'Fuji' (male parent). Artificial hybridization was carried out in the spring of 1976 at the Zenghou Fruit Research Institute by the breeder. The seeds were harvested the following autumn and then planted out to form a population for selection of new cultivars. From this population, one seedling in particular showed desirable characteristics such as attractive appearance, large size, crisp fruit texture, pleasant flavour and long storage ability. This selection was named 'Huaguan'.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Huaguan' were conducted by the okanagan Plant Improvement Company, Limited at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland, British Columbia during 2002. The trials consisted of 5 trees, grafted onto M26 rootstock and planted in the spring of 2000. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 10 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Huaguan' with reference varieties 'Spartan' and 'Fuji#2'

Length of internodes on one-year old shoot (mm)

Leaf length (mm)

Leaf width (mm)

Flower diameter (mm)

Fruit diameter (mm)

Total sugars in fruit juice (%)