Cultivar Update

It has been a test year for our cultivar performance trials in terms of 2004 being an atypical type of growing season, which started out cold and wet and seemed to stay that way for the bulk of the spring and summer. Many growers probably thought at one time or another in early summer that we would have a repeat of 1992 when we saw very little heat or sunshine. The 2004 growing season did have similar elements to that disastrously cold and light deficient year, but overall it wasn’t as bad as 1992. The weather didn’t really come around until late summer. Anyway, those late season cultivars that are in the trials were put to the test for finish.

One thing we did see was a lot more colour on everything that has the propensity to colour. This was in part a result of the cool nights in late August. We saw solid red coloured ‘Honeycrisp’ on M9 rootstock. ‘Ambrosia’ apples were striking in their appearance with a higher % of that distinct reddish-pink than last year.

‘Silken’ as a cultivar continues to find a fit for consumer preference as tested by cooperators. ‘Silken’ does have the remarkable ability to maintain good quality on the tree over a long picking window. It is not, however, an apple for long-term storage.

‘Creston’ has been a pleasant surprise at some of the sites in the trials. It is a fairly friendly tree to work with in the Jonagold-type class. It has superior flesh texture and storability, compared to the traditional Jonagold strains. In taste tests and consumer acceptance, it appears to have lots of potential.

Ambrosia® royalties on delivered trees were incorrectly reported in the last newsletter as taking effect in July of 2006. The correct date is July 1^st 2005, as most growers now know.

Ambrosia® is quite responsive to heat as we have found in the trials. Some of the Ontario growing regions with fewer heat units have a much higher probability of finishing a cultivar likes ‘Ambrosia’ if the site is exceptional with regards to elevation and airflow. There is no question in my mind about the ability of the Ontario climate to produce ‘Ambrosia’ with distinct and outstanding colour attributes.

In higher heat unit areas of Ontario, ‘Cameo’ will finish. This is a very productive and grower friendly type bearing habit with high yield potential. The ‘Cameo’ I have seen brought to maturity in our highest heat unit trial location have been remarkably well-coloured when compared to ‘Cameo’ currently showing up in retail markets in Ontario. A well-finished ‘Cameo’ has Gala-type shape and look, and could easily be confused. ‘Cameo’ will store well and has exceptional flesh characteristics.

The first sampling of both numbered selections and cultivars has been done from our trial sites for evaluation of suitability for the slice market. Dr Jennifer DeEll will be working with colleagues in B.C. and Quebec to determine some of the more promising material in our trials.