Delfloga

Apple

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Gala'

Summary: The internode length on the one-year-old shoot of 'Delfloga' is shorter than that of 'Gala'. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the skin of a young fruit of 'Delfloga' is small whereas the extent is medium to large on the skin of a young fruit of 'Gala'. The general shape of the mature fruit of 'Delfloga' is globose whereas the mature fruit of 'Gala' is cylindrical. The crowning at the calyx end of the fruit of 'Delfloga' is strong whereas the crowning is absent or weak for 'Gala'. The ground colour of the fruit skin of 'Delfloga' is yellow whereas the ground colour of 'Gala' is whitish yellow. The over colour of the fruit skin of 'Delfloga' is medium orange red and distributed as a flush with mottling and narrow, 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 'Delfloga' are small whereas the lenticels of 'Gala' are large. The eye basin of the fruit of 'Delfloga' is of medium depth whereas the eye basin of 'Gala' is shallow. The fruit flesh of 'Delfloga' 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 'Delfloga' whereas the locules of 'Gala' are fully open. The time of harvest maturity of the fruit of 'Delfloga' is late in the season whereas it is mid-season for 'Gala'.

Description:

TREE: weak vigour, ramified type, 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 to medium density of pubescence on distal half of shoot, medium number of lenticels

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

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

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

DISEASE RESISTANCE: resistant to scab (Venturia inaequalis)

Origin & Breeding History: 'Delfloga' originated from a controlled pollination conducted in 1983 in Malicorne (Allier), France between the variety 'Tenroy', as the female parent, and the variety 'Florina', as the male parent. 'Delfloga' was selected in 1998 for its resistance to scab (Venturia inaequalis), good fruit preservation for 5 to 6 months at normal cold temperatures, and good productivity.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial of 'Delfloga' 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 13 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 'Delfloga' with reference variety 'Gala'

Length of the internode on the one-year-old shoot (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Apple: 'Delfloga' (left) with reference variety 'Gala' (right)