Wiltons Star

Apple

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Red Jonaprince'

Summary: 'Wiltons Star' has a one-year-old shoot with medium to many lenticels whereas 'Red Jonaprince' has a one-year-old shoot with few to a medium number of lenticels. The upper side of the leaf blade of 'Wiltons Star' is light to medium intensity of green whereas the leaf blade of 'Red Jonaprince' is medium to dark intensity of green. The fruit stalk on 'Wiltons Star' is longer than the fruit stalk on 'Red Jonaprince'.

Description:

TREE: weak to medium vigour, ramified type, spreading growth habit, fruit bearing on spurs and long shoots
ONE-YEAR-OLD SHOOT: medium thickness, medium brown on side exposed to sunlight, medium to dense pubescence on distal half, medium to many lenticels

LEAF BLADE: outwards attitude in relation to shoot, medium length to width ratio, light to medium green on upper side, serrate type two incisions of margin on distal half, medium density of pubescence on lower side
PETIOLE: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration at base

FLOWER: begins flowering early to mid season, dark pink on outer side at balloon stage, large diameter with petals pressed into horizontal position, intermediate arrangement of petals, stigmas positioned at the same level as anthers

YOUNG FRUIT: medium extent of anthocyanin over colour
FRUIT: large, small to medium height to diameter ratio, conic shape, absent or weak ribbing, absent or weak crowning at calyx end, medium to large eye, medium to long sepal, locules fully open in transverse section, mid-season to late harvest and eating maturity
FRUIT SKIN: moderate amount of bloom, absent or weak greasiness, no visible ground colour, very large area of over colour, dark purple red over colour distributed only as solid flush pattern, no stripes, absent or small area of russet around stalk attachment, absent or small area of russet on cheeks, absent or small area of russet around eye basin, medium number of small lenticels, shallow to medium depth stalk cavity, narrow width stalk cavity, shallow to medium depth and medium width eye basin
FRUIT STALK: medium to thick
FRUIT FLESH: firm, white

Origin & Breeding History: 'Wiltons Star' was discovered late summer 1998 in Weert, the Netherlands. 'Wiltons Star' was selected for fruit yield, smooth non-spotted dark red fruit skin with most fruit covered in sold dark flush at time of harvest.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Wiltons Star' were conducted between 2017 and 2018 at Summerland Varieties Corp. test plots, in Summerland, British Columbia. The trials consisted of 14 trees of 'Wiltons Star' and 11 trees of 'Red Jonaprince' grown on M9 rootstock. The trees were planted in 2014.

Comparison table for 'Wiltons Star' with reference variety 'Red Jonaprince'

Fruit stalk length(cm)

Click on image for larger view

Apple: 'Wiltons Star' (left) with reference variety 'Red Jonaprince' (right)