Minnewashta

Apple

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'MacIntosh' and 'Sunrise'

Summary: 'Minnewashta' is an early season apple variety which has longer, narrower leaves than 'MacIntosh' and 'Sunrise'. 'Minnewashta' has larger fruit than 'MacIntosh' and has longer sepals than both reference varieties. There is a larger area of overcolour on the fruit of 'Minnewashta', compared with the two reference varieties. The overcolour of the candidate variety is orange red in a weakly defined flush with strongly defined stripes, whereas 'MacIntosh' has purple red overcolour as a solid flush and 'Sunrise' has red overcolour as a solid flush with weakly defined stripes. 'Minnewashta' is harvested slightly later than the reference varieties.

Description:

TREE: weak to medium vigour, ramified, spreading habit, fruit bearing on spurs and long shoots
ONE-YEAR OLD SHOOT: medium thickness, short to medium internode, strong pubescence, very few lenticels, medium brown on sunny side

MATURE LEAF: upwards orientation, medium green, crenate margins, medium pubescence on lower side, large extent of anthocyanin colouration from base

FLOWER: single, white and dark pink bud in balloon stage, overlapping petal margins

FRUIT: very large, globose shape, asymmetric in side view, no ribbing, no crowning at calyx end, large eye, long sepals, early maturity
EYE BASIN: medium to deep, medium to broad in width
FRUIT STALK: medium thickness, medium length, deep and broad stalk cavity
FRUIT SKIN: heavy bloom, moderate greasiness, yellow green ground colour, large area of orange red overcolour, overcolour pattern of weakly defined flush with strongly defined stripes, very small amount or no russet, many medium sized lenticels
FRUIT FLESH: cream to yellowish, soft to medium firmness, moderately open aperture of locules, moderate browning tendency one hour after cutting

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Minnewashta' was derived from a seed from the cross designated AE7214 made in 1972 between the parents 'State Fair' and 'MN 1691'. The cross was made at the University of Minnesota Horticultural Research Centre (HRC), located in Carver county near Excelsior, Minnesota. The variety was planted as a seedling tree in 1974 in position 132 of row 15 in block 66 of the HRC. Upon fruiting the variety was selected based on winter hardiness of the tree and appearance, flavour and texture of the fruit and it was given the experimental designation MN 1824. Nineteen trees were asexually propagated from the seedling tree by budding on Malling 26 rootstock and trees were planted at HRC in 1988, 1990 and 1992 for further testing.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Minnewashta' were conducted at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, B.C. from 2002 to 2005. The trials consisted of 5 trees of the candidate variety, 5 trees of 'MacIntosh' and 10 trees of 'Sunrise'. All varieties were propagated in nurseries in the Certified Budwood Orchard and planted in a soft fruit block "B" in close proximity in Field 2 NorthEast and SouthEast. Trees of all varieties were on M9 rootstocks and were spaced 1 metre apart in rows 3 metres apart. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 10 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Minnewashta' with reference varieties 'MacIntosh' and 'Sunrise'

Leaf length (mm)

Leaf width (mm)

Fruit height (mm)

Fruit diameter (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Apple: 'Minnewashta' (left) with reference varieties 'MacIntosh' (centre) and 'Sunrise' (right)