Óiase

Apple

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Empire'

Summary: The tree of 'Óiase' has a medium to strong vigour while that of 'Empire' has a weak vigour. The sunny side of the one-year-old shoot of 'Óiase' is reddish brown whereas it is dark brown for that of 'Empire'. The one-year-old shoot of 'Óiase' has sparse pubescence on the distal half with many lenticels whereas that of 'Empire' has a medium density of pubescence on the distal half with a medium number of lenticels. At the balloon stage, the flower of 'Óiase' is mainly white while that of 'Empire' is mainly light pink. The fruit of 'Óiase' is large with an absent or weak bloom on the skin of the fruit while that of 'Empire' is medium sized with a moderate bloom on the skin of the fruit. The fruit overcolour of 'Óiase' is a medium intensity of red and covers a small to medium area whereas the fruit overcolour is a dark intensity of purple red and covers a large to very large area for that of 'Empire'. The fruit stalk and eye basin of 'Óiase' are of medium width whereas they are narrow for that of 'Empire'. The flesh of the fruit of 'Óiase' is cream coloured while it is white for that of 'Empire'.

Description:

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

PETIOLE: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration from base
LEAF BLADE: outwards attitude in relation to shoot, medium length to width ratio, medium to dark green, serrate type 1 margin, absent or sparse to medium density of pubescence on lower side

FLOWER: mainly white in balloon stage, overlapping arrangement of petals, stigmas positioned at same level as anthers

FRUIT: large, medium height to diameter ratio, obloid shape, absent or weak ribbing, moderate crowning at calyx end, medium sized eye, medium length of sepal
FRUIT SKIN: absent or weak bloom, absent or weak greasiness, yellow ground colour, medium area of russet around stalk attachment, absent or small area of russet on cheeks and around eye basin, medium number of small lenticels
OVERCOLOUR OF SKIN: small to medium area, red hue with bloom removed, medium intensity, solid flush with weakly defined stripes, narrow stripes
STALK: medium thickness
STALK CAVITY: medium depth and width
EYE BASIN: shallow, medium width
FRUIT FLESH: firm, cream coloured, moderately open aperture of locules

Origin & Breeding History: 'Óiase' (experimental designation QS2-50) originated from a cross made in the spring of 2007 between 'Honeycrisp', as the female parent, and 'Pitchounette', as the male parent, at La Pomme de Demain's plot at Viau Orchard in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, Quebec. Seedlings from the original cross were planted in 2012 on the premises of the Cataphard et Fils Orchard in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, Quebec. 'Óiase' was selected in 2016 based on timing of fruit production and fruit taste.

Tests & Trials: The comparative test and trial was conducted at the Verger de la Montagne in Mont-Saint-Grégoire, Quebec during the 2023 growing season. Trees of 'Óiase' and 'Empire' were grafted onto 'Cepiland' (Pajam 2) rootstocks and planted in 2018 in two side-by-side rows with a 1.8 metre spacing between trees within the row and 4.5 metre spacing between the rows. There were 15 trees each of the candidate and reference variety. Observations were taken from 10 trees, or 10 parts of trees, of each the candidate and reference variety.

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Apple: 'Óiase' (right) with reference variety 'Empire' (left)

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Apple: 'Óiase' (left) with reference variety 'Empire' (right)

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Apple: 'Óiase' (left) with reference variety 'Empire' (right)