Diva

Apple

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Macspur'

Summary: 'Diva' is an apple variety which is suited for cider and ice cider production. The dormant one-year old shoots of Diva have a moderate number of medium sized lenticels, whereas 'Macspur' has many small lenticels on the shoots. The fruit of 'Diva' is oblong to oblong conical in shape and the skin has a moderate bloom, compared with 'Macspur' which has flat globose fruit with strong bloom on the skin. 'Diva' has a longer, thinner fruit stalk than 'Macspur'. The lenticels on the skin of 'Diva' fruit are significantly more prominent than the lenticels on 'Macspur' fruit. 'Diva' has globose-conical seeds, whereas 'Macspur' has conical seeds. 'Diva' matures slightly later than 'Macspur' and is resistant to scab (Venturia inaequalis), while 'Macspur' is susceptible to scab.

Description:

TREE: strong vigour, spreading to drooping habit
BRANCHES: less than 90 degree angle to trunk, fruit bearing on both spurs and shoots
ONE-YEAR OLD SHOOT: strong pubescence, moderate number of medium sized lenticels, reddish brown on sunny side
LATERAL BUD: medium sized, pointed tip, adpressed to axis, small to medium sized bud support

SHOOT TIP LEAF: white growing tip, concave to straight in cross section, very strong pubescence on upper side, pale green lower side
LEAF: medium to dark green, medium to large, upwards to outwards facing orientation, cuspidate apex, serrate margin, weak glossiness on upper side, pubescent on lower side, weak anthocyanin on veins
STIPULES: small (rarely present)

FLOWER: single type, reddish purple bud in full balloon stage, mid to late flowering, green pedicel with red stripe
PETAL: touching to overlapping margins, purple upper and lower sides (RHS 58A)

FRUIT: medium size, oblong to oblong conical, weak ribbing, weak to medium crowning at distal end, good yield, mid to late season maturity
EYE: medium to large size, open aperture
EYE BASIN: very deep, narrow
SEPAL: persistent, medium length, free (not touching)
STALK: medium thickness, long
STALK CAVITY: shallow to medium depth, narrow
FRUIT SKIN: smooth, weak to medium bloom, no waxiness, yellow green ground colour, medium to high amount of dark red purple banded and solid overcolour, low amount of russet around stalk cavity, prominent small to medium sized lenticels, no tendency of stem cavity cracking
FRUIT FLESH: cream coloured, weak core line, open aperture of locules, moderate browning tendency, moderate firmness, medium to strong juiciness
SEED: brown, globose conical shape

RESISTANCE TO DISEASE: resistant to Scab (Venturia inaequalis)

Origin & Breeding History: 'Diva' originated from crossing 'McIntosh' with the pollen collected from '9AR5T17', a scab resistant line at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu Research Centre, Quebec. The original cross was made in 1971. Since 1974 the selected seedling, which became the variety 'Diva', was tested for its hardiness, disease resistance, fruit quality, chemical composition and shelf life. After extensive testing it was planted and evaluated in replicated trials since 2000 under the experimental designation SJC7123-1 at Verger du Minot and l'Acadie Experimental Farm.

Tests & Trials: Test and trials for 'Diva' were conducted at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada l'Acadie research sub-station, Quebec, and at Verger du Minot, a commercial cider production facility. Trees of 'Diva' were planted in replicated trials in 2000, under the test name SJC7123-1. The variety was compared in the trials to 'Macspur', using 4 replicates of each variety in a completely randomized design. Both varieties were grafted on M26 rootstock, and the yield, fruit size and other characteristics were collected since 2003.

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Apple: 'Diva' (top) with reference variety 'Macspur' (bottom)

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Apple: 'Diva' (left) with reference variety 'Macspur' (right)