VK71

Apple

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'DS99' and 'Summerland Red Mac'

Summary: The young fruit of 'VK71' has a large to very large extent of anthocyanin over colour whereas the young fruit of 'DS99' has a small extent of anthocyanin over colour and the young fruit of 'Summerland Red Mac' has a medium extent of anthocyanin over colour. 'VK71' has medium to large fruit whereas 'DS99' has small to medium sized fruit. The fruit skin of 'VK71' has a very large relative area of over colour whereas the fruit skin of 'DS99' has a medium to large relative area of over colour and the fruit skin of 'Summerland Red Mac' has a small to medium relative area of over colour. The over colour pattern of the fruit skin of 'VK71' is a solid flush only while that of 'DS99' is flushed, striped and mottled and that of 'Summerland Red Mac' is a solid flush with stronly defined stripes. The fruit skin of 'VK71' has many lenticels whereas the fruit skin of 'DS99' has a medium number of lenticels.

Description:

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

LEAF BLADE: upwards attitude in relation to shoot, medium to large length to width ratio, medium green intensity on upper side, crenate incisions of margin on distal half, absent or sparse pubescence on lower side
PETIOLE: large extent of anthocyanin colouration of base

FLOWER: begins flowering early, dark pink on outer side at balloon stage, small to medium sized diameter with petals pressed into horizontal position, intermediate arrangement of petals, stigmas positioned above anthers

YOUNG FRUIT: large to very large extent of anthocyanin over colour
FRUIT: medium to large, large height to diameter ratio, obloid shape, moderate ribbing, absent or weak crowning at calyx end, small eye, short sepal, locules moderately to fully open in cross-section, early to mid-season harvest maturity and eating maturity
FRUIT SKIN: strong bloom, absent or weak greasiness, whitish green ground colour, very large area of over colour, dark purple red over colour distributed only as solid flush pattern, 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, many small lenticels, shallow to medium depth and narrow to medium width of stalk cavity, shallow to medium depth and narrow to medium width of eye basin
FRUIT STALK: thick
FRUIT FLESH: soft to medium firmness, cream colour

Origin & Breeding History: 'VK71' was discovered in August 2002 as a branch limb mutation from a previous tree mutation 'DS99', that was originally itself derived from a branch limb mutation of 'Summerland Red Mac'. 'VK71' was selected due to the high percent of red blush it exhibits comparison to its parent 'DS99'. 'VK71' is propagated clonally through budding and grafting techniques.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'VK71' were conducted between 2014 and 2018 at Summerland Varieties Corp. test plots, in Summerland, British Columbia. The trials consisted of 10 trees of each variety grown on M9 rootstock. The trees were planted in 2011.

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Apple: 'VK71' (left) with reference varieties 'Summerland Red Mac' (centre) and 'DS99' (right)