Passionata

Apple

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Primgold'

Summary: The colour of the one-year-old branch on the side exposed to sunlight is medium brown for 'Passionata' whereas it is greenish brown for 'Primgold'. The incisions of the margin of the leaf blade are bicrenate for 'Passionata' whereas the incisions of the margin of 'Primgold' are serrate type 2. At the balloon stage, the colour of the flower bud is dark pink for 'Passionata' whereas the flower bud of 'Primgold is light pink. The fruit of 'Passionata' is large to very large and obloid in shape whereas the fruit of 'Primgold' is medium to large and globose in shape. The fruit of 'Passionata' has a medium amount of over colour whereas the fruit of 'Primgold' has a small amount of over colour. The thickness of the peduncle of 'Passionata' is medium to thick whereas the peduncle of 'Primgold' is thin to medium thick. In transverse section, the aperture of the locules within the fruit is moderately open for 'Passionata' whereas the locules of 'Primgold' are closed to slightly open. The time for fruit harvest and the time of eating maturity are both late for 'Passionata' whereas they are both mid-season for 'Primgold'. The fruit flesh of 'Passionata' tastes similar to the flavour of passion fruit and Muscat grape whereas the fruit flesh of 'Primgold' tastes similar to the flavour of pear.

Description:

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

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

FLOWER: dark pink on outer side at balloon stage, medium sized diameter with petals pressed into horizontal position, arrangement of petals is not touching, stigmas positioned below anthers

YOUNG FRUIT: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration
FRUIT: large to very large, medium to large height to diameter ratio, obloid shape, absent or weak ribbing, medium strength crowning at calyx end, small to medium size eye, short to medium length sepal, locules moderately open in cross-section, late season harvest maturity and eating maturity
FRUIT SKIN: absent or weak bloom, absent or weak greasiness, yellow ground colour, medium size area of over colour, medium pink 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 number of medium size lenticels, medium depth and medium width of stalk cavity, medium depth and medium width of eye basin
FRUIT STALK: medium to thick
FRUIT FLESH: firm, cream colour, tastes like passion fruit and Muscat grape

Origin & Breeding History: 'Passionata' (breeder designation 'Q370') is a chance seedling from an open pollinated cross between the hybrid variety 'NJ75' as the female parent and an unknown male parent. The cross occurred in May 1993 at the Verger Josée et Jaques Viau in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, Quebec, and seed was planted in 1994 in the same location. The criteria used during the selection of 'Passionata' were fruit flavour, improved fructification habit, and resistance of the fruit to frost damage.

Tests & Trials: The PBR comparative trial of 'Passionata' was conducted from 2011 to 2014 in an orchard at Coeur de Pomme in Oka, Quebec. The trial was planted in 2009 and included 7 trees each of the candidate and reference variety which were grafted onto rootstock variety 'Cepilan' (Pajam II). The trees were planted 1.75 metres apart in rows that were spaced 4.20 metres apart from each other. The trees were planted such that the grafting point was 15 cm above the soil level. Branches between the soil level up to 80 cm were removed. The number of fruit per tree and the number of fruit bearing branches were systematically adjusted at the beginning of fruit development, 2 to 3 weeks after fruit set, to result in a fruit density of 3 'Passionata' fruit per square centimetre of fruiting branch and a fruit density of 5 'Primgold' fruit per square centimetre of fruiting branch.

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Apple: 'Passionata' (left) with reference variety 'Primgold' (right)

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Apple: 'Passionata' (bottom) with reference variety 'Primgold' (top)

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Apple: 'Passionata' (left) with reference variety 'Primgold' (right)