Apple variety Jonagold de Coster

Abstract

The Jonagold De Coster strain of Jonagold apple tree characterized particularly by the bright red color of its fruit, the high color percentage of its fruit, and by its freedom from virus infection.

Description

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apple tree named Jonagold De Coster, sometimes denominated "Decosta".

The new apple variety was discovered in a cultivated orchard located in MOLENBEEK-WERSBEEK, Hageland, Belgium as a spontaneous whole tree mutation of Jonagold (Unpatented). Neither this tree nor its parent had been treated in any manner designed to induce sports.

The new apple tree cultivar was one of the block of apple trees propagated on M9 rootstock with Jonagold budwood. Its most unique characteristic is its desirable fruit color.

With respect to fruit color, Jonagold De Coster exhibits a higher degree of color development than standard Jonagold. Although as the percentage of red color on the fruit increases with the season, the shade of red color remains throughout the season the bright wind red color that standard Jonagold is known for. Its color characteristics may best be summarized in the following Table.

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Jonagold
De Coster    Jonagored     Jonagold
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Early color
Similar to   Brownish brown-
Light
develop-
Standard     red color through-
green to
ment of Jonagold with
out the growing
dark green
fruit   some pink to season, darkening
red additional
and redening in
color visible
early September
from July through
early September
Fruit finish
Very bright wine
Dark red to brown
Bright,
color - red tone similar
red; 821 Currant
wine red
shade   to standard  red to 822 Cardinal
with white
Jonagold with no
red, RHCCL    to yellow
brown tones.               background
Finish tone is
between 818
Jasper red and
818 Orient red,
RHCCL
Fruit finish
Many fruits  Many fruits with
Many
color - %
with 85%-95% 85-95% red color,
fruits
red color, some
some apples   with 20-
light stripes
blush finish, 30% red
others bold   color
stripes       stripes
over a
white to
yellow
back-
ground
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Rubinstar    Daliguy       Jonica
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Early color
Starts very  Light green   Light green
develop-
early- at the
dark green
ment of end August in
fruit   a brownish way
Fruit finish
Transforms from
Bright wine-  Brown to
color - brown into dark
red with      pink-red
shade   red          white to
yellow back-
ground
Fruit finish
Many fruits  Many fruits   Many fruit
color - %
with 90-100% with 30-40%   colors
red color    red color     with 70%
stripes over  in a pink-
a white to    red.
yellow back-  Others stay
ground with   brownish
more inten-   pink red
sity than
standard
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RHCCL -- Royal Horticultural Colour Chart of London

With respect to virus, both the budwood and rootstock of the original mutation were controlled by the N.A.K.B. of Holland and labeled as virus free. The current scion wood in the U.S.A. also is virus free, as certified by the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

The new apple tree variety has been asexually propagated through three generations and its new characteristics shown to be stable and reproducible.

The three generations have been asexually propagated through T-budding and benchgrafting onto certified virus-free rootstocks. The trees of the first, second and third generation and 10,000 control trees in their second leaf in an orchard at Dronten, Holland have been controlled individually by the staff of the Belgian National Research Station, the Dutch Fruit Advisory Team, and the staff of the Dutch Government Research Bureau.

More than 150,000 trees produced apples in 1991 in orchards planted in Belgium, The Netherlands, France, and North, South and Eastern Germany. All the apples so produced were checked and found to be of uniform and stable color.

Also, the trees have been planted and observed in all of the research stations supervising apple variety trials in Europe. These stations are located in Velm, Belgium; Wilhelminadorp, Zeewolde, Numansdorp, Horst, Geldermalsen, The Netherlands; York, Ahrweiler, and Bavendorf, Germany; Haidegg, Austria; Laimburg, Italy; Angers, Marsillarges, France, and elsewhere in the world. In all of these stations Jonagold De Coster has been named among the best mutations of Jonagold.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the Jonagold De Coster apple tree variety of my discovery shown as it was discovered between a pair of standard Jonagold apple trees of the same stock, growing in the same block of trees.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the new variety, illustrating the manner in which it was grown in Belgium, slender spindle fashion, with wide branch angles.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating the appearance and color of the mature fruits of the new apple tree variety.

FIG. 4 is a comparative display of the fruits of the new apple variety in a mature state comparing them, with particular reference to color, with the standard Jonagold apple variety and the Jonagored apple variety in the same mature state.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are elevational and sectional views, respectively of the new variety.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are detailed views of the reference Jonagold strains, Jonagored, Rubinstar and Jonica.

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are comparative displays illustrating the appearance of the new apple variety in comparison with that of the reference Jonagold mutations Jonagored, Rubinstar and Jonica.

In greater detail, the characteristics of the newly discovered Jonagold De Coster apple tree variety are as follows:

Tree: Upright, rather vigorous with wide spreading branches, medium in size, not as strong as Golden Delicious.

Bearing habit.--Medium size, regular annular bearer, highly productive.

Trunk.--Thick, upright, smooth, gray color.

Branches.--Moderately thick, strong wide angles, very spreading, smooth gray bark.

Leaves.--Very large, medium to dark green with green veins.

Spurs.--Strong, closely set.

Bark.--Gray, a somewhat lighter shade than standard Jonagold. This contrasts with the bark of the Jonagored variety which is a darker shade of brown than that of standard Jonagold.

Lenticels.--Gray, obscure.

Disease status.--Virus free; susceptible to scab and mildew.

Vigor.--The same as standard virus-free Jonagold. This compares with the vigor of Jonagored which is 15-30% less than standard due to the expression of apple rubbery wood virus.

Productivity.--Same as virus free Jonagold, but greater than Jonagored.

Pollination.--Bloom is mid-season. The variety is triploid with sterile pollen. Can be pollinated by: Alkmene, Benoni, Cox's Orange Pippin, Delcorf, Discovery, Elan, Elise, Elstar, Fiesta, Gala, Gloster, James Grieve, Lombarts Calville, Melrose, Rafzubin, Vista Bella, Zoeta Oranje.

Fruit:

Shape.--Large fruit, high conical shape with the thickest point at half of the height, often leaning over going to the calyx end, very slightly ribbed.

Stem.--Long, 25 to 35 mm, thin.

Cavity.--Medium, obtuse, broad, shallow, light russet on some.

Calyx.--Large to medium large, closed, quite shallow.

Lobes.--Medium, broad, obtuse.

Basin.--Medium, wide obtuse, furrowed.

Skin.--Smooth, glossy, medium thickness and toughness.

Color.--Uniform bright wine red up into calyx and cavity, background color is yellow to light red, uniform pink-reddish nature begins in July covering a major portion of the fruit (80-95%) with finishing tone appearing in early September.

Lenticels.--Numerous, tan, obscure, almost invisible, very small points.

Calyx tube.--Long, narrow, funnel-shaped.

Stamen.--Median.

Core.--Small and round, closed.

Seeds.--Large, wide, tan to auburn.

Flesh.--White-yellow to yellow, firm, crisp, medium texture, juicy, sweet to aromatic-sour taste with outstanding flavor.

Quality.--Very good to excellent.

Storage.--Can be stored in regular cold storage until January and in ultra-low oxygen storage until July.

Further comparisons of the characteristics of my new apple variety Jonagold De Coster with standard Jonagold and the more significant Jonagold mutants, Jonagored, Rubinstar, Daliguy and Jonica (Schneica) are tabulated as follows:

TABLE I
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Tree      Jonagold De Coster
Jonagored
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growth    upright        vigorous
rather vigorous
Bearing habit
regular annual bearer
regular annual bearer
Trunk and moderately thick
moderately thick
branches  No spur growth
bark color
grey           dark brown
vigor     same as standard VF
Jonagored grows
5-10% more than
standard VF
productivity
100%           90%
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Tree      Standard VF Jonagold
Rubinstar
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growth    upright        less upright
less vigorous  much less vigorous
Bearing habit
tendency to biannual
regular annual bearer
Trunk and moderately thick
thin
branches
bark color
dark grey      very dark grey
vigor                    virusinfected grows
10% less than
Standard VF
productivity
100%           80%
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Tree      Daliguy        Jonica
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growth    upright        less upright
less vigorous  much less vigorous
Bearing habit
tendency to biannual
regular annual bearer
Trunk and moderately thick
tin
branches
bark color
dark grey      grey
vigor     same as        VF grows
Standard VF    10% less than
Standard VF
productivity
90%            80%
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TABLE II
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PICKING DATE
% FIRST PICK
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Jonagold De Coster
9.19.1990     65.8
Jonagored    9.19.1990     61.8
Standard Jonagold
9.19.1990     20.0
Rubinstar    9.24.1990     86.5
Daliguy      9.19.1990     30.0
Jonica       9.26.1990     60.9
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TABLE III
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Fruit      Jonagold De Coster
Jonagored
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Shape      not as large more
very large
uniform in size not uniform
globose conical size
oblongconical
Stem       long            long
Calyx      quite shallow   shallow
closed          some half-open
Cavity     broad           rather small
medium deep     medium to
little deep
Skin       smooth          smooth
Color      uniform wine-red
dark red to
background green
purple
to yellow when  little to no
ripe little     background
striping        striping
Lenticels  numerous        numerous
Calyx tube long narrow     long narrow
Core       small and round small and
round
Seeds      large wide      large wide
Flesh      white yellowish yellowish
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Fruit      Standard Jonagold
Rubinstar
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Shape      large           smaller
not uniform in size
more uniform in
size
globose conical flat globose
Stem       Long            medium long
Calyx      shallow         quite shallow
some half-open  some half-open
Cavity     broad           broad
medium to deep  medium deep
Skin       smooth          very smooth
Color      tomato red with a
unform dark
green to yellow red with very
background      little green
little stripes  background
Lenticels  less            less
Calyx tube not so long narrow
long narrow
Core       small and round not small, and
flat
Seeds      large wide      very small and
very thin
Flesh      yellowish       yellowish
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Fruit      Daliguy         Jonica
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Shape      large           rather large
not uniform in size
not uniform
globose conical in size
flat globose
Stem       long            medium long
Calyx      shallow         shallow
some half-open  closed
Cavity     broad           rather small
medium to deep  medium to
little deep
Skin       smooth          very smooth
Color      intense tomato red
dull brown red
with a green to to pink red
yellow background
with green
to yellow
background
Lenticels  less            less
Calyx tube not so long, narrow
short wide
Core       small and round not small and
flat
Seeds      large wide      very large,
very wide
Flesh      yellowish       white yellowish
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TABLE IV
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Blooming period
muta- 1989         1990         1991
tion  A      B      C    A    B    C    A    B    C
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Jona- 5/02   5/05   5/14 4/12 4/16 5/09 4/17 4/26 5/13
gold
De-
Coster
Jona- 4/20   4/29   5/14 4/11 4/15 5/08 4/16 4/23 5/09
gored
Jonica
4/19   5/02   5/15 4/11 4/17 5/07 4/15 4/23 5/08
Rubin-
4/19   5/02   5/14 4/11 4/16 5/08 4/17 4/23 5/09
star
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A: bloom start
B: full bloom
C: end of bloom

TABLE V
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Trunk growth in cm on rootstock M9
Planting
Mutation
date        1989   1990   1991 total
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Jonica  1988        3.22   1.65   3.41 8.28
Jonagored
replanted   2.18   1.49   3.63 7.30
1988
Rubinstar
replanted   1.16   1.30   2.84 5.30
1988
Jonica  replanted   0.97   1.34   2.84 5.15
Jonagold
1989        2.56   2.22   3.46 8.24
De Coster
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Trunk diameter is measured 30 cm above the ground.

TABLE VI
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Taste
Total value for internal:
2 × aroma + 2 × sour-sweet propor-
characteristics
tion + 2 × firmness + 2 × juiciness
Sour-Sweet
Firm-         Total
Mutant  Aroma   proportion
ness  Juiciness
Value
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Jonica  5,48 ±
5,87 ± 0,41
5,88 ±
6,36 ± 0,42
47,19 ±
0,44*            0,33          2,57
Decoster
5,65 ±
6,26 ± 0,41
6,32 ±
6,25 ± 0,49
48,96 ±
0,41              0,34          2,62
Rubinstar
5,39 ±
6,0 ± 0,40
6,09 ±
6,43 ± 0,42
47,83 ±
0,41              0,38          2,38
Jonagored
5,30 ±
5,43 ± 0,45
5,68 ±
5,67 ± 0,44
44,17 ±
0,40              0,38          2,56
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TABLE VII
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Surface Color
Group      Mutant      Identification Mark
______________________________________
Group 1    Jonica      Bright-red blush with
green ground color
Group 2    De Coster   Group in between from
bright-red to dark-red
with green ground color
Group 3    Jonagored   Dark-red; little to no
green ground color
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TABLE VIII
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COMPARISON OF JONAGOLDMUTANTS
(Selective sample of 5 apples)
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Appearance: * Color:
Jonica: uniform colored, dull brown red,
the color changes gradually from
green to red, the green side is
green over the whole length.
Jonagored:
dark red to purple, striped,
almost no green color, change
from green to red is very diffuse.
Rubinstar:
uniform dark red, little green
ground color, change from green
to red is diffuse.
DeCoster:
between bright and dark red,
lightly striped, change from red
to green is diffuse and not over
the whole length.
Lenticels:
DeCoster & Jonagored have many
lenticels;
Rubinstar and Jonica have a
moderate number of lenticels.
Shape:  Jonica and Rubinstar are rounded
quadrangular;
Jonagored:
asymetrical
DeCoster:
a little higher, a little
sloping.
Average number of pips:
Jonica:     3,0
Jonagored:  2,6
Rubinstar:  4,0
DeCoster:   2,6
Diameter of core:
Jonica:     2,76 cm
Jonagored:  2,88 cm
Rubinstar:  3,18 cm
DeCoster:   3,0 cm
Jonagored
Height    Width          Height/Width
72,84     82,02          0,89
66,09     75,31          0,88
69,70     77,22          0,50
76,77     84,12          0,91
74,01     78,95          0,94
0,90 = Average
Dark red to purple-red colored
striped coloring
little to no green ground color
nose mostly red colored
many lenticels.
Rubinstar
Height    Width          Height/Width
78,24     80,86          0,97
69,72     75,92          0,92
74,64     81,60          0,91
78,13     78,76          0,99
75,98     78,93          0,96
0,95 = Average
Dark red (in 1991 less dark than in 1989 and 1990)
homogeneously colored
little to no green ground color
moderate number of lenticels.
DeCoster
Height    Width          Height/Width
67,07     71,52          0,94
73,50     75,60          0,97
69,38     78,78          0,88
68,86     75,16          0,92
67,15     79,25          0.85
0,91 = Average
Between bright red and dark red
striped coloring
much surface is green colored
at one side less high
many lenticels.
Jonica
Height    Width          Height/Width
68,48     73,05          0,94
72,46     75,69          0,96
70,94     74,77          0,95
68,82     74,56          0,92
72,32     79,26          0,91
0,94 = Average
Bright red
homogeneously colored
moderate number of lenticels
nose may be green
much surface is green colored.
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(Source: Gegevens van de Nationale Proeftuin voor Grootfruit, SintTruiden

In summary, the unique characteristics of my newly discovered apple tree variety Jonagold De Coster are as follows:

The unique and striking color of the fruit, between dark and bright red.

Its original and continued virus free-status.

A high percentage of early first pick.

A vigorous and highly productive tree growth habit, creating a large tree volume with a very large potential fruit-bearing surface, which is well used.

Good fruit storage properties.

Superior fruit flavor.

Claims

1. The new and distinct variety of apple tree as described and illustrated characterized particularly by the unique color of its fruit, by its unique virus free condition from inception, and characterized further by its high percentage of early first pick, a vigorous and highly productive tree growth habit, good fruit storage properties, and superior fruit flavor.