Ariane

Apple

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Florina'

Summary: The tree of 'Ariane' has an upright to spreading growth habit and medium strength vigour whereas the tree of 'Florina' has a spreading to drooping growth habit and strong vigour. The colour on the sunny side of the one-year-old shoot of 'Ariane' is reddish brown whereas the one-year-old shoot of 'Florina' is greenish brown. The one-year-old shoot of 'Ariane' has a medium number of lenticels whereas the one-year-old shoot of 'Florina' has many lenticels. The leaf of 'Ariane' has a larger leaf blade and longer petiole than the leaf of 'Florina'. Along the distal half of the leaf blade, the incisions of the margin of 'Ariane' are crenate whereas the incisions of the margin of 'Florina' are serrate type one. The extent of anthocyanin colouration of the young fruit is large for 'Ariane' whereas the extent is of medium size for the young fruit of 'Florina'. The ground colour of the fruit skin is yellow for 'Ariane' whereas the ground colour is whitish yellow for 'Florina'. With the bloom removed, the over colour of the fruit skin is red for 'Ariane' whereas the over colour is purple red for 'Florina'. The lenticels of the fruit skin are large for 'Ariane' whereas the lenticels are of medium size for 'Florina'. The fruit of 'Ariane' has a medium thick peduncle and cream coloured flesh whereas the fruit of 'Florina' has a thin peduncle and white flesh.

Description:

TREE: medium vigour, ramified type, upright to spreading growth habit, type of fruit bearing is both on spurs and long shoots, begins flowering early
ONE-YEAR-OLD SHOOT: medium thickness, reddish brown on side exposed to sunlight, sparse pubescence on distal half of shoot, medium number of lenticels

LEAF BLADE: perpendicular attitude in relation to shoot, medium length to width ratio, medium green on upper side, crenate incisions of margin on distal half, medium density of pubescence on lower side
PETIOLE: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration from base

FLOWER: dark pink on outer side at balloon stage, small diameter with petals pressed into horizontal position, arrangement of petals is intermediate between not touching and overlapping, stigmas positioned above anthers

YOUNG FRUIT: large extent of anthocyanin colouration
FRUIT: medium size, medium height to diameter ratio, globose and obloid shape, weak ribbing, weak crowning at calyx end, medium size eye, medium length sepal, locules closed or slightly open in cross-section, late season harvest maturity, medium to late eating maturity
FRUIT SKIN: weak bloom, absent or weak greasiness, yellow ground colour, large area of over colour, medium red over colour distributed only as solid flush, no stripes, medium size area of russet around stalk attachment, absent or small area of russet on cheeks, absent or small area of russet around eye basin, large lenticels, medium to large number of lenticels, deep and medium width of stalk cavity, deep and medium width of eye basin
FRUIT STALK: medium thickness
FRUIT FLESH: firm, cream colour

DISEASE RESISTANCE: resistant to common races of scab (Venturia inaequalis)

Origin & Breeding History: 'Ariane' originated from a controlled pollination conducted in April 1979 in Versailles, France. The cross involved a hybrid designated 'P7R25A27', as the female parent, and a hybrid designated 'P21R4A30', as the male parent. 'Ariane' was selected in 1988 for its resistance to common races of scab (Venturia inaequalis), high productivity, and the taste and storage qualities of the fruit.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial of 'Ariane' was conducted from 2012 to 2014 in an orchard at Pépinière Rochon, inc., at 9026, rang de la Fresnière, in Mirabel, Quebec. The trial was planted in 2012 and included 12 trees of the candidate variety and 5 trees of the reference variety which were grafted onto rootstock variety 'M7'. The grafting took place during the winter of 2010 after which the grafted rootstocks were grown for 2 growing seasons in a nursery. In the autumn of 2011 the candidate and reference varieties were uprooted from the nursery and planted at the trial site in the spring of 2012. The trees were planted 1.5 metres apart in rows that were spaced 4.5 metres apart from each other. Observations and measurements of the plant, one-year-old shoot and leaf characteristics were taken from 5 plants or parts of plants of the candidate and refererence varieties. Observations and measurements of the fruit characteristics were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of the candidate variety and from 5 plants or parts of plants of the reference variety.

Comparison tables for 'Ariane' with reference variety 'Florina'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

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Apple: candidate variety 'Ariane'

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Apple: reference variety 'Florina'

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Apple: 'Ariane' (right) with reference variety 'Florina' (left)