Nicoter

Apple

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Royal Gala' and 'SPA493'

Summary: The internode length of the one-year-old shoot of 'Nicoter' is shorter than that of both reference varieties. The sunny side of the one-year-old shoot of 'Nicoter' is reddish brown while that of both reference varieties is dark brown. The distal half of the one-year-old shoot of 'Nicoter' has medium to dense pubescence while that of both reference varieties have very sparse pubescence. The leaf of 'Nicoter' is longer than the leaf of 'SPA493'. The petiole of 'Nicoter' is longer than the petiole of both references. The extent of anthocyanin overcolour on the young fruit of 'Nicoter' is absent or very small while that of 'Royal Gala' is of small to medium extent. The fruit of 'Nicoter' is taller than that of 'SPA493'. The fruit of 'Nicoter' is conic shaped whereas the fruit of 'SPA493' is obloid. The calyx end of the fruit of 'Nicoter' has absent or weak crowning while that of 'Royal Gala' has strong crowning. The fruit of 'Nicoter' has a shorter sepal than that of 'Royal Gala'. The fruit skin has an absent or weak bloom while that of 'SPA493' has a strong bloom. The area of overcolour on the fruit of 'Nicoter' is large, while it is medium sized for 'Royal Gala' and very large for 'SPA493'. The overcolour on the fruit of 'Nicoter' is distributed as a solid flush while it is distributed as a weakly defined flush with defined stripes for 'Royal Gala'. The area of russet around the stalk attachment of the fruit of 'Nicoter' is absent or small while it is large for 'SPA493'. The fruit skin of 'Nicoter' has a medium number of small to medium sized lenticels whereas that of 'Royal Gala' has many large lenticels. The stalk of the fruit of 'Nicoter' is shorter than that of both reference varieties. The stalk cavity of the fruit of 'Nicoter' is of medium depth while it is deep for that of 'SPA493'.

Description:

TREE: medium vigour, ramified type, spreading growth habit, bearing fruit on spurs only
ONE-YEAR OLD SHOOT: medium thickness, reddish brown on sunny side, medium to dense pubescence, medium number of lenticels

LEAF: outwards attitude, medium to large length to width ratio, medium green, serrate type one margin, absent or sparse pubescence on lower side
PETIOLE: small to medium amount of anthocyanin colouration extending from base

FLOWER: begins flowering early to mid-season, light pink at balloon stage, small to medium diameter when pressed into horizontal position, petal arrangement free, stigma located above anthers

FRUIT: absent or very small extent of anthocyanin overcolour on young fruit, medium to large, medium height to diameter ratio, conic shape, absent or weak ribbing, absent or weak crowning at calyx end, medium to large eye, short to medium length sepals, absent or small area of russet around stalk on cheeks and around eye basin, moderately open aperture of locules
SKIN: absent or weak bloom, absent or weak greasiness, green ground colour, large area of medium pink red overcolour distributed as a solid flush, medium number of small to medium sized lenticels
STALK: medium thickness, medium depth and broad stalk cavity
EYE BASIN: shallow to medium depth, medium width
FLESH: medium to firm, cream colour

QUALITY: mid-season harvest maturity, early eating maturity

Origin & Breeding History: 'Nicoter' originated from a controlled cross-pollination between the variety 'Gala', as the female parent, and the variety 'Braeburn', as the male parent, in May 1993 in Sint-Truiden, Belgium. Seeds were harvested from the cross-pollinated fruit in November 1993 and germinated in March 1994 at the University of Leuven in Belgium. In 1994, the resulting seedlings were grown in a nursery at K.U. Leuven in Belgium. In the winter of 1994 to 1995, the top end of the seedlings were grafted onto M27 VF rootstocks. In 1995, the bench grafted genotypes were cultivated in the fruit tree nursery of NV Johan Nicolaï in Sint-Truiden, Belgium and in March 1996, they were replanted to 1st screening parcel of NV Johan Nicolaï in Fernelmont, Belgium. In September 1997, first fruit was observed and the new variety was selected for further evaluation. In the winter of 1997 to 1998, 19 trees were grafted onto interstock Golden Delicious/rootstock M9 and planted on a 2nd screening parcel of NV Johan Nicolaï in Sint-Truiden, Belgium. Between September 2000 and 2003, observations were made and final selection of the trees occurred. 'Nicoter' was selected based on its fruit quality, storability and appearance.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial of 'Nicoter' was conducted in 2014 and 2015 in the Summerland Varieties Corporation test plot, at 4200 Block, Highway 97, in Summerland, British Columbia, Canada. The trial was planted in 2012 and included 16 trees each of the candidate and reference varieties which were grafted onto rootstock variety 'M9' using a super spindle planting scheme. The trees were planted 0.45 metres apart in rows that were spaced 3 metres apart from each other. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of the candidate and reference varieties.

Comparison tables for 'Nicoter' with reference varieties 'Royal Gala' and 'SPA493'

Internode length on one-year-old shoot (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Fruit height (cm)

Fruit stalk length (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Apple: 'Nicoter' (centre) with reference varieties 'Royal Gala' (left) and 'SPA493' (right)