SJM127

Apple

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Malling 26' and 'Malling 9'

Summary: 'SJM127' is an apple rootstock variety with wavy basal shoots while those of the reference varieties are straight. 'SJM127' has weak pubescence on the upper half of the dormant one-year old shoots, whereas both 'Malling 26' and 'Malling 9' have very dense pubescence. The leaves of 'SJM127' have no pubescence on the lower side, whereas 'Malling 26' has dense pubescence. Self rooted trees of 'SJM127' produce very small fruit, compared to those of 'Malling 26' which are medium in size. 'SJM127' fruit are globose to flat globose in shape with a raised eye (calyx) and yellow and orange yellow ground colour, whereas 'Malling 26' fruit are flat in shape, have a medium to deep eye basin and a green-yellow ground colour. There is a medium amount of pinkish red overcolour on fruit of 'SJM127', while 'Malling 26' has a very low amount of orange to pink overcolour.

Description:

TREE: low suckering tendency, poor root anchorage, dwarfing

BASAL SHOOTS IN STOOL BED: intermediate vigour, medium number, wavy

DORMANT ONE-YEAR OLD SHOOT: weak pubescence on upper half, medium shine on bark, weak to medium flexibility, many large lenticels, reddish brown colour on sunny side
LATERAL BUD: small, pointed tip, adpressed to axis, small bud support
GROWING TIP: white

SHOOT TIP LEAVES: concave to straight in cross section, no pubescence on upper side, green on lower side
LEAVES: medium to dark green, no lobing, large size, oriented outwards to downwards, cuspidate apex, serrate margin, weak glossiness, no pubescence on lower side, weak anthocyanin on veins, no (or very weak) anthocyanin colouration on upper side
STIPULES: small to medium size

FLOWER BUD: medium pink bud (in full balloon stage),
FLOWERS: single, pedicel green on one side and red on other side
PETALS: white with some medium pink at margins, broad-elliptic to ovate in shape, touching to overlapping margins

FRUIT: very small, globose to flat globose shape, asymmetric in side view, medium ribbing, no crowning at distal end, eye is medium in size and half open, persistent calyx, medium to long sepals, sepals overlapping, no eye basin (raised eye)
FRUIT STALK: thin, very long, stalk cavity narrow and shallow
FRUIT SURFACE: smooth, yellow and orange-yellow ground colour, medium amount of pinkish red overcolour, overcolour is washed and solid, very low amount of russet around stalk cavity, lenticels small and very slightly prominent
FRUIT IN CROSS-SECTION: yellowish flesh, no core line, closed locules

SEED: brown at maturity, normal shape

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

Origin & Breeding History: 'SJM127' originated from a cross between Malus baccata (L.) Borkh. variety 'Nertchinsk' and 'Malling 26', made in 1960 at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Morden Manitoba. The selection was made in 1971at AAFC in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec based on criteria including vigour, winter hardiness, disease resistance, dwarfing effect and the effect on the tree branch structure.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'SJM127' were conducted at the L'Acadie Research Sub Station of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. The trial included 3 to 4 root stocks of each variety and 4 self rooted trees of each variety. The stoolbed was planted in 2000 and self rooted trees of the varieties were planted in an orchard in 1999 and allowed to develop into fruiting trees. Measurements and observations were recorded in 2005. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'SJM127' with reference varieties 'Malling 26' and 'Malling 9'

Dormant one-year old shoots: thickness (mm)

Dormant one-year old shoot: length of internode (mm) (at middle third of shoots)

Flower: diameter (cm)

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Apple: 'SJM127'

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Apple: Reference variety 'Malling 9'

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Apple: Reference variety 'Malling 26'