V2

Apple

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'M9' and 'M26

Summary: 'V2' is a more vigorous rootstock than 'M9'and produces many more basal shoots in the stool bed than 'M26'. The growth of the basal shoots in the stool bed is wavy for 'V2' while they are straight for 'M26'. 'V2' has a higher suckering tendency than 'M9'. 'V2' has intermediate to good root anchorage while'M9' has poor anchorage. 'V2' has similar to 'M26' in dwarfing ability. The dormant one year old shoots of 'V2' have less pubescence, and shorter internodes than both reference varieties, and more lenticels than 'M26'. The shape in cross section of the shoot tip leaves is concave while it is straight in 'M9' and convex in 'M26'. The colouration of the lower side of the shoot tip leaves is bronze green in 'V2' while it is green in the reference varieties. 'V2' has a medium stipule size compared to the small size for the reference varieties. The fruit size diameter is very small to small for 'V2' while it is medium for 'M26'. 'V2' has a globose conical fruit shape while the reference varieties have a more flat globose(oblate) shape. The crowning at the distal end of the fruit is present in 'V2' while absent in the reference varieties. 'V2' has a deeper eye basin and thinner fruit stalk than the reference varieties. The bloom of the skin is absent in 'V2' while it is present in 'M9'.The mature fruit of 'V2' has a cream-white ground colour with a high amount of pink over colour on the skin while the fruit of 'M9' has a yellow ground colour and 'M26' a greenish yellow ground colour. Both reference varieties have a low amount of orange over colour on the skin of the fruit. 'V2' has less russet on the skin than the reference varieties. The distinctness of the core line in the fruit cross section of 'V2' is strong while it is absent to very weak for 'M9' . The aperture of locules in the fruit cross section is open in 'V2' while it is closed in the reference varieties. 'V2' has more resistance to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) than 'M26'.

Description:

'V2' is a clonal rootstock that produces trees of intermediate vigour, with many to very many wavy basal shoots. It has an upright to spreading branching habit with a greater than 90 degree to 90 degree angle of the bearing branches to the trunk. The predominance of major fruit load being on spurs. It has high suckering tendency with intermediate to good root anchorage with intermediate dwarfing ability. The pubescence on the upper half of the dormant one-year-old shoot is weak, with a medium shine to the bark, and medium flexibility. It has a few medium sized lenticels on the dormant one-year-old shoots. The predominant colour of the sunny side of the dormant one-year-old shoots is reddish brown. The lateral bud of the dormant one-year-old shoot is medium in size, pointed, adpressed, with a small support.

The colour of the growing tip of the leaf shoot is white. The shoot tip leaves are concave in cross section, have medium pubescence on the upper side, and are bronze green in colour on the lower side, with the apex and margins having colours other than green. It has medium sized leaves that face upwards and have no lobing. The leaf has an apex shape that is acuminate, with a serrated margin. The upper side of the leaf has medium glossiness, medium green colour, and very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The lower side is pubescent with a weak anthocyanin colouration of the veins. The leaf has medium sized stipules.

The bud burst is mid-season and occurs around May 1, in Simcoe, Ontario. 'V2's fruit is very small to small in diameter, symmetric with a globose conical shape. The fruit is absent of ribbing with the presence of weak to medium crowning at the distal end. The eye of the fruit is small to medium in size with a closed aperture. The eye basin is shallow to medium in depth and narrow in width. The calyx is present in the mature fruit. The sepals of the fruit are medium to long in length, and are touching to overlapping. The stalk of the fruit is thin to medium in thickness ,short with a medium depth and width stalk cavity. The fruit surface is smooth to hammered, absent of bloom, with a strong waxiness to it. The skin is translucent, thin in thickness, with a cream white ground colour when the fruit is fully mature. There is a high amount of pink over colour which consists of a solid but slightly streaked pattern. There is no russet on the fruit. The lenticels are medium in size with intermediate prominence. 'V2' has white flesh. The distinctness of the core line is strong, with the aperture of the locules open. At maturity the seed is dark brown, and normal in shape. 'V2' is moderately resistant to moderately susceptible to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) disease.

Origin & Breeding History: 'V2' originated from a selection by Dr. Aleck Hutchinson of 680 seeds from open pollinated fruit of 'Kerr' apple crab x unknown. The selection was made in 1959 at McDonald College, of McGill University, Montreal, Quebec and assigned the accession code of V605. 'Kerr' is a seedling of Dolgo crabapple (Malus ×robusta 5 (M. prunifolia x M. baccata)) x Harrison apple ('Melinda' apple x unknown). Seedlings were evaluated in the field at Vineland, Ontario starting in 1961, and were selected based on growth habit, bark thickness, hardiness, ease of propagation, and disease and insect resistance. Out of this collection came lines V605-1 to V605-7 (now V1 to V7).

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'V2' were conducted at the Horticultural Experimental Station, Simcoe, Ontario between 1994-2002 with 'Goodland', 'Royal Gala', 'Empire', 'Jonagold', and 'Northern Spy' as the grafted scions.

Comparison tables for 'V2' with reference varieties 'M9' and 'M26

Thickness of dormant one year old shoot (mm)

Length of internode of dormant one year old shoot (mm)

Leaf length (mm)

Leaf width (mm)

Petiole length (mm)