Patent Application
20080229458
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Malus domestica Borkh.
‘Masonova’
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apple tree named ‘Masonova’. The new tree ‘Masonova’ (experimental designation S47-24-42) resulted from a planned hybridization programme and is a selection from a cross between the pollen parent ‘Empire’ and the seed parent ‘S21-42-69’ in 1974. The cultivar ‘Empire,’ which is a cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious, was released by the Cornell Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, N.Y., in 1966. ‘Empire’ is a cultivar that gained wide commercial acceptance for a number of reasons including productivity under a wide range of planting systems, harvest during the gap between McIntosh and Red Delicious; resistance to preharvest fruit drop and storage scald, low susceptibility to fire blight, and fruit quality with respect to color, firmness, and storage. The resulting tree was selected when growing in a cultivated area in Nova Scotia, Canada.
More specifically, pollen was collected from the cultivar ‘Empire’, stored and dried for use in the traditional crossing method. At the full bloom stage, the emasculated flowers of ‘S21-42-69’ were pollinated with the dried pollen from ‘Empire’. Seeds were collected from successfully pollinated fruit in the fall of 1974. In 1978, trees were planted in the seeding evaluation field block of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Fruit was evaluated from 1984 to 1988 and re-propagation for field evaluations was done in 1991.
The selection of ‘Masonova’ took place in 1989. Selection criteria for ‘Masonova’ included scab resistance, combined with the desirable eating quality traits of ‘Empire’ and solid, complete red coloration of the fruit.
Trees of ‘Masonova’ were compared to ‘Novaspy’ and ‘Liberty’ apple varieties, referred to herein as the “reference varieties.” ‘Novaspy’ originated at AAFC as a cross between Nova Easygro×(Red Spy×Golden Delicious), while ‘Liberty’ originated at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, N.Y., as a cross between Macoun×Purdue 54-12.
The comparative tests and trials for ‘Masonova’ were conducted in 2003 and 2004 by AAFC. The fruit and tree characteristics were evaluated on trees planted in 1992 in a cooperative scab-resistant cultivar trial set up by AAFC in cooperation with grower E.W. Peillat Starr's Point, Nova Scotia. In recent years, the orchard has been managed by J.W. Mason & Sons, Ltd. The trial consisted of four trees of each variety grafted on ‘Budogovsky 490’ rootstock. They were planted twelve feet apart in rows which were spaced at eighteen feet.
Asexual reproduction shows that the distinguishing characteristics of ‘Masonova’ are established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.
The ‘Masonova’ variety is distinguished from other apple varieties due to the following unique combination of characteristics: resistance to apple scab; good cold storage ability; desirable eating characteristics including soft and fine textured ivory colored flesh with some green and red venation surrounding the core, and flesh exhibiting absent to very weak browning after cutting; the skin has solid, complete red coloration. Tree shape is upright with a spur type growth habit. Fruit shape is flat, globose with a pronounced eye basin and stalk cavity. Petal shape is orbicular.
Asexual reproduction of this new variety by grafting and budding onto ‘Budogovsky 490’ rootstock shows that the foregoing and other characteristics come true to form, are firmly fixed, and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations.
The original Masonova crosses were conducted in 1974. Seeds produced from these crosses were planted in 1978. The following detailed description concerns the original tree (S47-24-42), selected in 1989, and progeny first asexually propagated in 1991.
The original tree and progeny have been observed growing in a cultivated area in Nova Scotia, Canada. Certain characteristics of this variety, such as growth and color, may change with changing environmental conditions (e.g., light, temperature, moisture, nutrient availability, or other factors). Color descriptions and other terminology are used in accordance with their ordinary dictionary descriptions, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Color designations are made with reference to The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Color Chart. All color characteristics were determined using the 1986 version of The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) color charts and measured characteristics were based on ten plant measurements. It should be understood that the colors may vary, depending on factors such as growing and lighting conditions.
The ‘Masonova’ apple is illustrated by the accompanying color photographs, in which:
The colors of an illustration of this type may vary with lighting and other conditions, therefore, color characteristics of this new variety should be determined with reference to the observations described herein, rather than from these illustrations alone.
‘Masonova’ is a mid-season dessert apple variety having a moderately good fruit setting with winter hardiness to Canadian zone 5b. ‘Masonova’ is resistant to scab (Iventuria inaequalis) and may be suitable for farming using organic growing techniques. The preferred method of propagation is budding onto rootstock liners in a nursery, although other suitable asexual growing methods may be used.
The following detailed description of the ‘Masonova’ variety is based on observations of asexually reproduced progeny. The observed progeny are trees which were 12 years of age and growing on ‘Budogovsky 490’ rootstock in Nova Scotia, Canada.
The following is a comparison of some characteristics of the ‘Masonova’ apple variety to the reference varieties ‘Novaspy’ and ‘Liberty’.
‘Masonova’ produces moderately vigorous, upright trees with moderate to strong branches; the angle of the fruit bearing branches is +/−90° and the major fruit load is predominantly borne on spurs. By contrast, the branches of ‘Liberty’ have a spreading habit and those of ‘Novaspy’ are weeping. Fruit bearing occurs on both the spurs and shoots for ‘Novaspy’. ‘Masonova’ has stronger branches and wider leaves than the reference varieties. Dormant one year old shoots of ‘Masonova’ are thicker, less pubescent and have fewer lenticels than those of either reference variety.
Seasonal flower development is classified as very late for ‘Masonova’ while it is mid-season for ‘Novaspy’ and mid-season to late for ‘Liberty’. ‘Masonova’ flowers are single with orbicular shaped petals that touch an overlap, while petal shape is ovate to oblong for ‘Novaspy’ and ovate for ‘Liberty’. The color of the flower buds of ‘Masonova’ is a lighter blue pink than those of the reference varieties.
‘Masonova’ produces medium sized fruit that are asymmetrical and flat globose in shape with a pronounced eye basin and stock cavity whereas ‘Novaspy’ produces large fruit which is truncate conical in shape. In comparison to the fruit of the reference varieties, ‘Masonova’ has a larger eye aperture, deeper eye basin, wider stalk cavity and more over color of the skin than the reference varieties.
The color of the fruit flesh for ‘Masonova’ is ivory with some green and red venation surrounding the core while it is cream for Novaspy’ and white for ‘Liberty’. Browning of the fruit flesh is absent to very weak for ‘Masonova’ one hour after being cut, moderate for ‘Novaspy’ and strong for ‘Liberty’. The fruit of ‘Masonova’ has softer flesh than the reference varieties. The texture of the flesh is fine for ‘Masonova’ while it is coarse for ‘Novaspy.’
Table 1 quantifies some differences between ‘Masonova’ and the reference varieties.
*reference
variety
