Plumac

Apple

Note: The applicant has requested an exemption from compulsory licensing to allow time to multiply and distribute propagating material of the variety. If the exemption is granted, it may be allowed for two years from the date rights are granted for the variety.

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Fuji', 'Braeburn' and 'Scifresh'

Summary: The growth habit for the trees of 'Plumac' is weeping whereas for 'Fuji' it is spreading, for 'Braeburn' it is upright and for 'Scifresh' it is spreading. The one-year-old shoots of 'Plumac' has many lenticels whereas those of 'Braeburn' have few and those of 'Scifresh' have a few to medium number. At the balloon stage, the predominant colour of the flowers for 'Plumac' are purple whereas those for 'Fuji' are white, those for 'Braeburn' are dark pink and those for 'Scifresh' are light pink. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the young fruit of 'Plumac' is large whereas for 'Fuji' it is small to medium sized and for both 'Braeburn' and 'Scifresh' it is very small to small. The fruit of 'Plumac' is smaller than that of 'Fuji'. The shape of the fruit of 'Plumac' is globose whereas for 'Fuji' it is ellipsoid, for 'Braeburn' it is conic and for 'Scifresh' it is ovoid. The relative area of over colour on the fruit of 'Plumac' is medium sized whereas for 'Fuji' it is medium to large and for 'Scifresh' it is large. The over colour on the fruit of 'Plumac' is flushed, striped and mottled whereas for all the reference varieties it is a solid flush with weakly defined stripes. The fruit of 'Plumac' has few small lenticels whereas the fruit of 'Fuji' has a medium number of medium sized lenticels and the fruit of 'Braeburn' has many medium sized lenticels. Flowering for 'Plumac' begins late to very late whereas for 'Fuji' and 'Scifresh' it begins mid-season. The time of harvest and eating maturity for 'Plumac' is mid-season to late whereas for 'Fuji' it is late to very late.

Description:

TREE: medium vigour, ramified, weeping growth habit, fruit bearing on spurs and long shoots, begins flowering late to very late, mid-season to late fruit harvest and eating maturity

ONE-YEAR-OLD SHOOT: medium to thick, dark brown on side facing sun, medium density of pubescence on distal half, many lenticels

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

FLOWER: predominantly purple at balloon stage, free arrangement of petals, stigmas positioned above anthers

YOUNG FRUIT: large extent of anthocyanin over colour
FRUIT: medium to large, small to medium height to diameter ratio, globose shape, absent or weak degree of ribbing, absent or weak crowning at calyx end, short to medium length sepal
FRUIT SKIN: absent or weak degree of bloom, absent or weak degree of greasiness, yellow green ground colour, medium sized relative area of over colour, medium intensity of pink red over colour; over colour distributed as flushed, striped and mottled; narrow width stripes, medium sized area of russet around stalk attachment, absent or small area of russet around eye basin, few small lenticels
FRUIT STALK: thin to medium thickness
FRUIT STALK CAVITY: medium to deep, medium width
FRUIT EYE: large
FRUIT EYE BASIN: shallow to medium depth, medium width
FRUIT FLESH: soft to medium degree of firmness, cream coloured, closed or slightly open aperture of locules in transverse section

Origin & Breeding History: 'Plumac' originated as a chance seedling discovered in 1998 by Geoffrey Lunkett in a garden in Upper Moutere, Nelson, New Zealand. Exact parentage is unknown, however it is suspected that it is likely resulting from the varieties 'Fuji' and 'Braeburn' due to proximity to the area of discovery. 'Plumac' was initially selected for fruit flavour. Further testing was conducted to assess the ease of growth, production characteristics, storability of the fruit, fruit firmness, fruit flavour and texture. Asexual reproduction was first accomplished by budding onto M9 rootstock in Waikato, New Zealand in 2002.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Plumac' was conducted from 2020 to 2021 at Summerland Varieties Corp. test plots, in Summerland, British Columbia. The trial consisted of 10 trees of 'Plumac' planted in 2019 on MM111 rootstock, 10 trees of 'Braeburn' planted in 2012 on M9 rootstock, 10 trees of 'Fuji' planted in 2012 on M9-Nic29 rootstock and 10 trees of 'Scifresh' planted in 2015 on M9-Nic29 rootstock. Trees were planted approximately 0.61 metres apart within a row and the rows were 3 metres apart. Observations and measurements were taken on 10 trees or 10 parts of trees for all varieties. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison tables for 'Plumac' with reference varieties 'Fuji', 'Braeburn' and 'Scifresh'

Fruit height (cm)

Fruit diameter (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Apple: 'Plumac' (top) with reference varieties 'Fuji' (centre top), 'Braeburn' (centre bottom) and 'Scifresh' (bottom)