SPC243

Cherry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: '13N0770' (Stardust), 'Rainier' and 'Sumtare' (Sweetheart)

Summary: 'SPC243' is a blush type, sweet cherry variety which matures later in the harvest season than any of the reference varieties. The fruit of 'SPC243' is smaller and has a lower average fruit weight than all reference varieties. 'SPC243' has an elongated kidney shaped fruit, whereas '13N0770' has cordate fruit, 'Rainier' is flat round and the fruit of 'Sumtare' is round. The fruit skin of 'SPC243' has a yellow ground colour with orange red overcolour and yellow fruit flesh, whereas 'Sumtare', another very late season variety, has mahogany skin and dark red purple flesh and the reference '13N0770' has white flesh.

Description:

TREE: normal type, medium vigour, upright growth habit, sparse crown density
ONE-YEAR OLD SHOOT: no anthocyanin, semi-erect attitude, medium to thick, short, no pubescence, many lenticels, very few or no flower buds
VEGETATIVE BUD: moderately large size, conical, slightly held out from shoot, medium to large bud support
CURRENT YEAR'S SHOOT: no pubescence, no anthocyanin at tip

LEAF: horizontal to oblique downwards attitude, broad obovate to elliptical shape, acute angle at tip, U-shaped base, cuspidate apex, concave in profile, weak pubescence on lower side
UPPER SIDE OF LEAF BLADE: dark green, no anthocyanin colouration, weak to medium glossiness, yellow before leaf fall
LEAF BLADE MARGIN: serrate, shallow to medium depth indentations
PETIOLE: anthocyanin present
NECTARIES: usually two, red to purple colour, kidney shaped

FLOWER: medium flowering density, borne in clusters, single type, white bud
PEDICEL: thin, no pubescence
PETAL: medium to large size, obovate shape, free margins, cream white colour
ANTHER: yellow before dehiscence, pollen present
PISTIL: normal, no supplementary pistil, no pubescence on ovary

FRUIT: medium to large size, kidney shaped, flattened in lateral view, largest diameter towards middle, flat apex
FRUIT SKIN: orange-red on a yellow ground colour, medium number of light coloured medium sized dots, moderate prominence of suture, low susceptibility to rain-induced cracking
FRUIT JUICE: no colour
FRUIT FLESH: yellow, firm, low to medium acidity, medium sweetness, very juicy
FRUIT STALK: long, thin to medium thickness

STONE: semi-adherent to flesh, medium size, medium size relative to fruit, elliptic in front view, spherical in lateral view, round elliptical in basal view, asymmetrical, very strong keel development

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS: intermediate to high fruiting precocity, moderately early flowering, self-fertile, late to very late fruit maturity, high fruit setting

Origin & Breeding History: 'SPC243' was the result of the open pollination of the variety 'Sumtare' (Sweetheart) which occurred at the Pacific Agriculture Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, B.C. in 1982. A seedling was selected in 1995 and designated 'SPC243'. Five propagations were made on Prunus avium rootstock and planted out in a trial block at the Summerland Research Centre in 1999. Evaluation of the selection began upon fruiting. The variety 'SPC243' was selected on the basis of maturity date, size of fruit, firmness, field splits, fruit taste, fruit shape, skin and flesh colour, fertility, lustre, productivity and precocity.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'SPC243' were conducted at the Pacific Agriculture Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, British Columbia from 1999 to 2006. The candidate variety and three reference varieties were planted in close proximity in test blocks located in Field 4, 5 and 13. The trials consisted of 4 trees per variety, grafted onto 'Mazzard' rootstock. Measured observations were based on a minimum of 15 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'SPC243' with reference varieties '13N0770', 'Rainier' and 'Sumtare'

Leaf blade length (mm)

Leaf width (mm)

Petiole length (mm)

Diameter of corolla (mm)

Fruit weight (gm)

Length of fruit stalk (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Cherry: 'SPC243' (bottom left) with reference varieties '13N0770' (top left), 'Sumtare' (top right) and 'Rainier' (bottom right)