SJP84-5218

Apple

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Malling 26' and 'Ottawa 3'

Summary: 'SJP84-5218' is an apple rootstock variety which has a much higher tendency to produce suckers then both reference varieties. Pubescence on the upper half of dormant one-year-old shoots is more dense for 'SJP84-5218' than either reference variety. The dormant one-year-old shoots of 'SJP84-5218' are more flexible with fewer lenticels than those of 'Ottawa 3'. Pubescence on the upper side of the shoot tip leaves is sparse for 'SJP84-5218' while it is dense for 'Malling 26'. 'SJP84-5218' has larger leaves than 'Malling 26' and smaller leaves than 'Ottawa 3'. The upper side of the leaves of 'SJP84-5218' is glossier than that of the reference varieties. Pubescence on the lower side of the leaves is absent for 'SJP84-5218' while it is dense for 'Malling 26' and sparse for 'Ottawa 3'. Bud burst occurs earlier for 'SJP84-5218' than either reference variety. 'SJP84-5218' produces smaller fruit than 'Malling 26'. 'SJP84-5218' has a smaller eye and narrower stalk cavity than the reference varieties. The eye basin of 'SJP84-5218' is absent while it is medium deep for 'Malling 26' and very shallow to shallow for 'Ottawa 3'. The fruit stalk of 'SJP84-5218' is thicker and shorter than that of 'Ottawa 3' and thinner and longer than that of 'Malling 26'. 'SJP84-5218' has no bloom of the skin while it is weak for 'Malling 26' and weak to moderate for 'Ottawa 3'. The colour of the fruit flesh is yellowish for 'SJP84-5218' while it is white for 'Malling 26' and cream for 'Ottawa 3'. The mature seeds of 'SJP84-5218' are conical in shape while those of the reference varieties are globose.

Description:

TREE: end use as clonal rootstock, very high tendency to produce suckers, poor root anchorage, dwarfing effect

BASAL SHOOTS IN STOOL BED: intermediate vigour, few

DORMANT ONE-YEAR-OLD SHOOT: very dense pubescence on upper half, weak shine of bark, moderate to strong flexibility, moderate number of small to medium sized lenticels, predominantly reddish brown on sunny side
LATERAL BUD: small, pointed tip, adpressed position relative to axis of shoot, small support
GROWING TIP: white

SHOOT TIP LEAVES: concave to straight in cross section, sparse pubescence on upper side, pale green on lower side
LEAVES: no lobes, medium in size, outwards to downwards orientation, cuspidate apex, biserrate margin, moderate glossiness on upper side, no pubescence on lower side, weak anthocyanin colouration of veins, medium green upper side, absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration of upper side, small to medium sized stipules

FLOWER BUD: medium pink at full balloon stage
FLOWERS: single type, green pedicel
PETALS: oblong to broad ovate in shape, overlapping margins, purple red (RHS 58A) blush on upper side, irregular patterns of purple red (RHS 58A) on lower side

FRUIT: very small, globose to flat globose and oblong conical in shape, variably asymmetric to symmetric in side view, weak to strong ribbing, weak to moderate crowning at distal end, small eye with closed aperture, non-persistent and persistent calyx in mature fruit, short to medium length sepals, touching at base of sepals, either raised or flat distal end in relation to fruit surface, thin and long stalk, medium deep and narrow stalk cavity
FRUIT SURFACE: smooth, no bloom, no translucency, yellow ground colour, absent to low amount (less than 40%) of orange to pink over colour, blush over colour, absent to very low amount of russet positioned around stalk cavity and on cheeks, medium sized lenticels, slightly prominent lenticels
FRUIT IN CROSS-SECTION: yellowish flesh, absent or very weak core line, aperture of locules closed

SEED: brown at maturity, conical in shape

REACTION TO DISEASES: resistant to scab (Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) Winter)
REACTION TO INSECTS: resistant to woolly apple aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum Hausmann)

Origin & Breeding History: 'SJP84-5218' originated from a cross between 'Robusta 5' and 'Malling 27' ('Malling 13' x 'Malling 9'). The cross was conducted in 1975 at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec as part of the AAFC Apple and Rootstock Breeding Program. 'SJP84-5218' was selected based on its winter hardiness, ease of propagation, pest resistance and disease resistance. It has been evaluated on an ongoing basis since 1984 in several locations including Frelighsburg, Mont-Saint-Grégoire, l'Acadie and Dunham, Québec.

Tests & Trials: The test and trial for 'SJP84-5218' was conducted within stool beds and self rooted orchards at l'Acadie Research Sub Station of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in l'Acadie, Quebec during the summers of 2000 and 2003. The trial included 3-4 root stocks of each variety and 4 self rooted trees of the candidate variety, 5 self rooted trees of reference variety 'Malling 26' and 8 self rooted trees of reference variety 'Ottawa 3'. All colour characteristics were determined using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) colour chart and measured characteristics were based on ten measurements except for the measured leaf characteristics of 'Malling 26', which were base on 8 measurements.

Click on image for larger view

Apple: 'SJP84-5218'

Click on image for larger view

Apple: Reference variety 'Ottawa 3'

Click on image for larger view

Apple: Reference variety 'Malling 26'