SPC207

Cherry

Variety Description

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

Summary: 'SPC207' is a self fertile, blush, sweet cherry variety with more vigourous trees than either '13N0770' or 'Rainier'. 'SPC207' has longer leaves with deeper margin indentations than the reference varieties. 'SPC207' has larger flowers and significantly larger fruit and larger stone than '13N0770' and 'Rainier'. The fruit of 'SPC207' is a flattenend heart, whereas '13N0770' has a cordate fruit shape and 'Rainier' is flat round. 'SPC207' matures a few days earlier than '13N0770' but several days after 'Rainier'.

Description:

TREE: normal type, strong vigour, upright growth habit, medium crown density
ONE-YEAR OLD SHOOT: no anthoycanin, erect to horizontal attitude, thin, long internodes, no pubescence, many lenticels, very few or no flower buds
VEGETATIVE BUD: very large size, conical, clearly held out from shoot, medium sized bud support
CURRENT YEAR'S SHOOT: no pubescence, no anthocyanin at tip

LEAF: horizontal attitude, elliptical to elongated, acute angle at tip, acute base, cuspidate apex, flat in profile, weak pubescence on lower side
UPPER SIDE OF LEAF BLADE: dark green, no anthocyanin colouration, medium to strong glossiness, yellow before leaf fall
LEAF BLADE MARGIN: serrate, medium to deep indentations
PETIOLE: anthocyanin present
NECTARIES: more than two, green with red overcolour, kidney shaped

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

FRUIT: very large, flat heart shaped, obovate in lateral view, largest diameter towards apex, flat to pointed apex
FRUIT SKIN: light yellow ground colour, vermilion (bright red) overcolour, medium number of large light coloured dots, medium to high prominence of suture, low susceptibility to rain-induced cracking
FRUIT JUICE: clear
FRUIT FLESH: cream to white, moderately firm, low acidity, high sweetness, strong juiciness
FRUIT STALK: long, medium thickness
STONE: semi-adherent to flesh, very large size, large size relative to fruit, elliptic in front view, spherical to intermediate in lateral view, round elliptical to long elliptical in basal view, asymmetrical, medium to strong keel development

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

Origin & Breeding History: 'SPC207' was the result of the cross Stella x 2S-84-10, which was made at the Pacific Agriculture Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, B.C. in 1976. The parent 2S-84-10 was a Summerland breeding line which resulted from the open pollination of Stella 35A. The seedling cross was designated 'SPC207' in 1997. Two propagations were made on Prunus avium rootstock and planted out in a trial block at the Summerland Research Centre in 1985. Evaluation of the selection began upon fruiting. The variety 'SPC207' was selected on the basis of maturity date, size of fruit, firmness, field splits, fruit shape, skin and flesh colour, fertility, luster, productivity and precocity.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'SPC207' were conducted at the Pacific Agriculture Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, British Columbia from 1999 to 2005. The candidate variety and two reference varieties were planted in close proximity in test blocks located in Field 4 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 'SPC207' with reference varieties '13N0770' and 'Rainier'

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: 'SPC207' (top left) with reference varieties '13N0770' (top right) and 'Rainier' (bottom centre)