SJP84-5174

Apple

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'M.26' and 'M.9'

Summary: The upper half of one-year-old shoots of apple rootstock variety 'SJP84-5174' has less pubescence than in the reference varieties, and a less shiny bark than 'M.9'. 'SJP84-5174' has smaller leaves than the reference varieties. Leaves of 'SJP84-5174' have less pubescence and are lighter green than those of 'M.26'. The fruit of 'SJP84-5174' is smaller than that of 'M.26'. The fruit of 'SJP84-5174' is ellipsoid in shape with no eye basin, whereas that of 'M.26' is flat with a broad and moderately deep eye basin.

Description:

TREE: end use as clonal rootstock, weak vigour, few basal shoots, straight to wavy growth of basal shoot, low to high tendency to produce suckers, poor root anchorage, dwarfing effect

DORMANT ONE-YEAR OLD SHOOT: weak pubescence on upper half, weak shine of bark, moderate flexibility, many small lenticels, predominantly reddish brown on sunny side
LATERAL BUD: small, pointed tip, adpressed to slightly held out position relative to axis of shoot, small support
GROWING TIP: red

SHOOT TIP LEAVES: concave to straight in cross section, sparse to moderate pubescence on upper side, green on lower side, secondary colour on leaf blade
LEAF: no lobes, medium in size, upwards to outwards, length/width ratio of 1.6, acuminate to cuspidate apex, serrate margin, weak glossiness on upper side, sparse pubescence on lower side, weak anthocyanin colouration of veins, medium green on upper side, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration on upper side, small stipule

FLOWER BUD: purple to purple red (RHS 58A to 58B), medium pink at full balloon stage
FLOWER: single type, green pedicel
PETAL: circular to oblong, overlapping margins open at base, white on upper side and mainly white with irregular patterns of purple on lower side

FRUIT: very small, flat globose in shape, asymmetric in side view, very weak to moderate ribbing, moderate to strong crowning at distal end, medium to large closed eye, persistent calyx in mature fruit, moderate to long sepals overlapping at base, absent to shallow and narrow to medium-wide eye basin, thin and long to very long stalk, narrow to medium and shallow to medium stalk cavity
FRUIT SURFACE: smooth, weak bloom, yellow ground colour, absent to low amount (0-40%) of pinkish red (RHS 35A) over colour, streaked and washed out over colour, weak to moderate amount of russet around stalk cavity, not prominent or very slightly prominent small lenticels
FRUIT IN CROSS-SECTION: yellowish flesh, absent or very weak core line, open locules

SEED: brown, globose-conical in shape

Origin & Breeding History: 'SJP84-5174' originated from a cross between 'Robusta 5' and variety 'M.27' ('M.13' × 'M.9') performed in 1975 at the Rootstock Breeding Program of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. It has been undergoing evaluations since 1984 at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada substation of Frelighsburg, Quebec. 'SJP84-5174' was planted in 1997 in replicated trials in Frelighsburg, at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada substation of L'Acadie and at two grower sites for evaluating its performance as a rootstock for McIntosh Summerland scions.

Tests & Trials: Trials for variety 'SJP84-5174' were conducted at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada substations of Frelighsburg and L'Acadie, Quebec. Trees were planted in a randomized block design, with four replicates in 3 metre rows with trees 40 cm apart. All colour characteristics were determined using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) colour chart and measured characteristics were based on ten measurements.

Comparison tables for 'SJP84-5174' with reference varieties 'M.26' and 'M.9'

Thickness of one-year-old shoot (mm)

Length of internode (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Apple: 'SJP84-5174' (top) with reference varieties 'M.9' (centre) and 'M.26' (bottom)