Delfloki

Apple

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Gala'

Summary: The tree of 'Delfloki' is of medium vigour whereas the tree of 'Gala' is weak. The petiole of 'Delfloki' is shorter than that of 'Gala'. At the balloon stage, the petals of 'Delfloki' are light pink whereas they are dark pink for 'Gala'. The arrangement of the petals of the flower is overlapping for 'Delfloki' whereas the arrangement is not touching for 'Gala'. The size of the mature fruit of 'Delfloki' is medium to large whereas that of 'Gala' is small to medium. The general shape of the fruit of 'Delfloki' is conic whereas the fruit of 'Gala' is cylindrical. The eye of the fruit is of medium size for 'Delfloki' whereas the eye is small for 'Gala'. The ground colour of the fruit skin of 'Delfloki' is green whereas the ground colour of 'Gala' is whitish yellow. The over colour of the fruit skin of 'Delfloki' is medium red and distributed as a solid flush with medium sized and weakly defined stripes whereas the over colour of the fruit skin of 'Gala' is dark pink red and distributed as a flush with mottling. The lenticels on the fruit skin of 'Delfloki' are of medium size whereas the lenticels of 'Gala' are large. The stalk of the fruit of 'Delfloki' is thick whereas the stalk of 'Gala' is of medium thickness. The depth of the eye basin of the fruit of 'Delfloki' is deep whereas the eye basin of 'Gala' is shallow. The fruit flesh of 'Delfloki' is very firm whereas that of 'Gala' is firm. In transverse section, the aperture of the locules of the fruit is closed to slightly open for 'Delfloki' whereas the locules of 'Gala' are fully open. The time of harvest maturity of the fruit of 'Delfloki' is late in the season whereas it is mid-season for 'Gala'. The time of eating maturity of the fruit of 'Delfloki' is late to very late whereas it is medium to late for 'Gala'.

Description:

TREE: medium vigour, ramified type, drooping growth habit, type of fruit bearing is on long shoots only, begins flowering early
ONE-YEAR-OLD SHOOT: medium thickness, light brown on side exposed to sunlight, medium density of pubescence on distal half of shoot, medium to many lenticels

LEAF BLADE: outward attitude in relation to shoot, small to medium length to width ratio, medium to dark green on upper side, incisions of margin on distal half are serrate type 1, medium density of pubescence on lower side
PETIOLE: medium to large extent of anthocyanin colouration from base

FLOWER: light pink on outer side at balloon stage, medium size diameter when petals pressed into horizontal position, arrangement of petals is overlapping, stigmas positioned at same level as anthers

YOUNG FRUIT SKIN: medium to large extent of anthocyanin colouration
FRUIT: medium to large size, small height to diameter ratio, conic shape, absent or weak ribbing, medium degree of crowning at calyx end, medium sized eye, medium length sepal, late season harvest maturity, late to very late eating maturity
FRUIT SKIN: absent or weak bloom, moderate greasiness, green ground colour, medium sized area of over colour; medium intensity of red over colour distributed as solid flush with weakly defined, medium width stripes; medium sized area of russet around stalk attachment, absent or small area of russet on cheeks and around eye basin, medium number and size of lenticels
STALK: thick
STALK CAVITY: medium depth and width
EYE BASIN: deep and medium width
FRUIT FLESH: very firm, white to greenish colour, locules closed or slightly open in transverse section

DISEASE RESISTANCE: resistant to scab (Venturia inaequalis)

Origin & Breeding History: 'Delfloki' originated from a controlled pollination conducted in 1988 in Malicorne (Allier), France. The cross involved a hybrid derived from crossing the varieties 'Golden Delicious' and 'Grive Rouge', as the female parent, and the variety 'Florina', as the male parent. 'Delfloki' was selected in 1998 for its resistance to scab (Venturia inaequalis), good fruit preservation for 4 to 5 months at normal cold temperatures, good productivity, and good eating quality.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial of 'Delfloki' was conducted in 2015 in an orchard at Pépinière Rochon, inc., at 9026, rang de la Fresnière, in Mirabel, Quebec. The trial was planted in 2013 and included 20 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 2011 after which the grafted rootstocks were grown for 2 growing seasons in a nursery. In the autumn of 2012, the candidate and reference varieties were uprooted from the nursery and planted at the trial site in the spring of 2013. The trees were planted 1.5 metres apart in rows that were spaced 4.5 metres apart from each other. Observations and measurements were taken from 5 plants, or parts of plants, of the candidate and reference variety.

Comparison table for 'Delfloki' with reference variety 'Gala'

Length of petiole (cm)

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Apple: 'Delfloki'

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Apple: Reference variety 'Gala'

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Apple: 'Delfloki' (centre) with reference variety 'Gala' (right)