Benmore

Apricot

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Perfection', 'Harrowblush', 'Vulcan' and 'Gabriel'

Summary: 'Benmore' is an apricot variety which matures approximately two weeks after 'Gabriel' and three days after 'Harrowblush'. The young shoots of 'Benmore' have less anthocyanin colouration than any of the reference varieties. The fruit of 'Benmore' is larger than 'Harrowblush' and 'Vulcan' and smaller than 'Gabriel' and 'Perfection'. 'Benmore' has circular shaped fruit in lateral view, while 'Perfection' has oblate fruit, 'Harrowblush' has circular to ovate fruit, 'Vulcan' has ovate fruit and 'Gabriel' has triangular to ovate fruit. 'Benmore' has a lower amount of overcolour on the fruit than 'Harrowblush' and 'Vulcan'. 'Benmore' differs from all the reference varieties in the size and shape of the stone. The stone of 'Benmore' is smaller than the other four varieties and it is obovate in shape, whereas 'Perfection' has a circular stone, 'Harrowblush' has an elliptic stone, and 'Vulcan' and 'Gabriel' have oblong to elliptic stones.

Description:

TREE: moderate vigour, spreading habit
SHOOT: medium anthocyanin on tip, red brown colour on sunny side, large bud support

LEAF: dark green on upper side, acute base, right-angled apex, short to medium length tip, crenate margins, strong undulation of margins, straight or weakly concave profile in cross-section
PETIOLE: medium thickness, strong anthocyanin on upper side, more than three very small nectaries present

FLOWER: flower buds on spurs and one-year old shoots, stigma above level of anthers, petal broad elliptic to circular

FRUIT: matures mid-to-late season, medium to large, circular in lateral view, circular to elliptic in ventral view, slightly asymmetrical, medium deep suture, deep stalk cavity, rounded to truncate apex, no mucron
FRUIT SKIN: smooth, pubescent, yellow green to light orange ground colour, low to medium amount of medium intensity orange red overcolour
FRUIT FLESH: cream to light orange, fine texture, medium firmness
STONE: medium size compared to fruit, obovate, very weak to weak adherence of flesh to stone, medium to strong bitterness when kernel is dried

Origin & Breeding History: 'Benmore' was selected in 1993 from a population of open pollinated 'Cluthagold' seedlings planted in 1986 on the Clyde Research Orchard in Central Otago, New Zealand. 'Cluthagold' is a New Zealand bred variety originating from a cross of the old variety 'Moorpark' and the Canadian variety 'Sundrop'.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Benmore' were conducted by the okanagan Plant Improvement Co. Ltd., in test blocks at the Certified Budwood Orchard, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Summerland, B.C. during 2002 to 2005. The trials consisted of 6 trees of each of the candidate varieties 'Benmore', 'Vulcan' and 'Gabriel', 4 trees of 'Perfection' and 2 trees of 'Harrowblush', all grown on Bailey rootstock and planted 6 feet apart in rows in the orchard. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 10 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Benmore' with reference varieties 'Perfection', 'Harrowblush', 'Vulcan' and 'Gabriel'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Length of claw on petal (mm)

Fruit weight (g)

Stone weight (g)

Click on image for larger view

Apricot: 'Benmore' (top right) with reference varieties 'Vulcan' (top left), 'Gabriel' (top centre), 'Harrowblush' (bottom left) and 'Perfection' (bottom right)