SQ 159

Apple

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Elise'

Summary: The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the young fruit of 'SQ 159' is small to medium whereas it is large on 'Elise'. The fruit of 'SQ 159' has a medium length sepal whereas 'Elise' has a long sepal. 'SQ 159' has a medium to shallow stalk cavity whereas it is medium to deep on 'Elise'.

Description:

TREE: medium vigour, ramified type, spreading growth habit, bearing fruit on spurs and long shoots, begins flowering mid-season, late to very late harvest maturity, late eating maturity
ONE-YEAR OLD SHOOT: medium thickness, medium to long internodes, medium brown on sunny side, very sparse to sparse pubescence on distal half of shoot, very many lenticels

LEAF: outwards attitude in relation to shoot, medium to long, medium width, large length to width ratio, dark green, biserrate incisions of margin on upper half, medium pubescence on lower side
PETIOLE: medium to long, medium extent of anthocyanin colouration from base

FLOWER: dark pink at balloon stage, medium sized diameter when pressed into horizontal position, petal arrangement is intermediate (between not touching and overlapping), stigma same level as anthers

YOUNG FRUIT: small to medium extent of anthocyanin colouration
FRUIT: medium to large size, medium to tall, medium to large diameter, medium height to diameter ratio, conic shape, absent or weak ribbing, absent or weak crowning at calyx end, small to medium size of eye, medium length sepals, absent or small area of russet around stalk and on cheeks, medium area of russet around eye basin, moderately open aperture of locules
SKIN: moderate bloom, absent or weak greasiness, yellow green ground colour, large to very large relative area of flushed, striped and mottled dark red over colour, narrow to medium width stripes, many medium sized lenticels
STALK: medium to long, medium thickness, stalk cavity shallow to medium depth and narrow to medium width
EYE BASIN: shallow to medium depth, narrow
FLESH: medium to firm, cream colour

Origin & Breeding History: 'SQ 159' originated from a controlled cross-pollination conducted in Wageningen, Netherlands in 1990, between the variety 'Elise', as the female parent, and a selection designated '1980-015-047', as the male parent. Seeds were harvested from the cross-pollinated fruit and planted in the fall of 1990. The resulting seedlings were grown for two years on their own roots in Wageningen and transplanted as trees during the spring of 1993 in the "De Santacker" field in Elst, in Gelderland, Netherlands. In the winter of 1995/1996, 'SQ 159' was selected for its very slow tree growth, and the appearance, texture, uniformity, and shelf life of its fruit. In March 1996, 7 seedlings were grafted onto 'M9' rootstock. These were then planted from the nursery into the "De Santacker" field in Elst, in Gelderland in the spring of 1998.

Tests & Trials: The detailed description is based on the UPOV report of Technical Examination, CPVO reference number 2009/1220, grant number 37718, purchased from the CPVO, Angers, France. The trials were conducted by the Bundessortenamt at the Prüfstelle Wurzen Testing station in Germany in 2012 and 2013.

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Apple: 'SQ 159'

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Apple: Reference variety 'Elise'