Numbered Selection SJCA38R6A74 Now Named “Eden”

One of the numbered selections in our Ontario Provincial Apple Trial has now gained both a name and some notoriety since it was planted out in our test sites in 2002. Dr. Shahrokh Khanizadeh of AAFC explains that he was in the process of identifying new apple cultivars for Quebec apple cider producers that had disease resistance when he noticed one particular apple that stayed white after cutting for a few days.

Dr. Khanizadeh had been screening numbered selections by way of their phenolic antioxidant compound content when making this discovery. These phenolic compounds are common to scab resistant cultivars.

This numbered selection that resisted browning has since been named “Eden”. The obvious use of this apple is in various processed products including slices and fillings.

The apple itself is a late maturing bicolour apple with a dark red over greenish yellow skin with a pure white flesh. It hangs well in the tree canopy and could potentially be used for ice cider making.