Apple Tree Named ‘BENITSURUGI’

Common name: Apple.

Botanical classification: Malus domestica (Suclow) Borkh.

Variety denomination: ‘BENITSURUGI’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Japanese plant variety rights application No. 37015 filed Aug. 31, 2023, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apple tree, Malus domestica (Suclow) Borkh, which has been given the variety denomination ‘BENITSURUGI’.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The parent varieties are ‘5-12786’ (male parent) (not patented) and ‘SANSA’ (female parent) (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,519), respectively.

The variety was developed and propagated at the Morioka Research Station, Institute of Fruit Tree and Tea Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), in Morioka, Iwate, Japan.

The variety was reproduced asexually by vegetative reproduction by grafting one-year-old cuttings on rootstocks.

In 2005, crossing the parent varieties and collecting seeds.

In 2006, columnar type's seedlings are selected by SCAR682 DNA marker from growing seedlings.

In 2007, they were grafted on JM1 root stock.

In 2008, they were transplanted at breeding field. And selected individual plant.

In 2015, the instant plant was selected as a promising breeding line and provisionally named ‘Morioka 74’.

In 2016, growing test for local adaptability were started under confidentiality conditions at 16 public testing stations in Japan.

On Aug. 31, 2023, an application for plant variety rights No. 37015 was filed for the present variety in the Japanese Plant Variety Protection Office of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan.

Cultivation of the variety does not require special conditions or treatments.

The variety is currently mainly intended for fruit production (table use).

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The present variety is distinguished by columnar tree type, bearing on spurs only, thick to very thick shoot thickness, short internode length, long leaf blade length, long petiole length, short to medium fruit stalk length, medium size and short to medium height fruit with fully open locules, that distinguish it, notably from its male parent ‘5-12786’ (medium extent of anthocyanin overcolor of young fruit, late harvest time) and female parent ‘SANSA’ (ramified tree type, medium shoot thickness, medium internode length, early harvest time), as well as from reference varieties ‘SENSHU’ (ramified tree type, bearing on spurs and long shoots, thin to medium shoot thickness, medium internode length, medium leaf blade length, short to medium petiole length, fruit with moderately open locules) and ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (ramified tree type, bearing on spurs and long shoots, thin to medium shoot thickness, medium internode length, short to medium leaf blade length, short to medium petiole length, medium to long fruit stalk length, large size and tall height fruit).

A comparison with the male parent ‘5-12786’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages):

TABLE 1

Male parent Present variety

‘5-12786’ ‘BENITSURUGI’

No. Characteristics States States

34 Young fruit: extent medium absent or very

of anthocyanin small to small

overcolor

101 Time of harvest late medium

A comparison with the female parent ‘SANSA’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages):

TABLE 2

Female parent Present variety

‘SANSA’ ‘BENITSURUGI’

No. Characteristics States States

2 Tree: type ramified columnar

9 One-year-old shoot: medium thick to very

thickness thick

10 One-year-old shoot: medium short

length of internode

101 Time of harvest early medium

A comparison with the reference varieties ‘SENSHU’ and ‘SHINANO SWEET’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages):

TABLE 3

Reference

Reference variety Present

variety ‘SHINANO variety

‘SENSHU’ SWEET’ ‘BENITSURUGI’

No. Characteristics States States States

2 Tree: type ramified ramified columnar

6 Tree: type of on spurs and on spurs and on spurs only

bearing long shoots long shoots

9 One-year-old thin to thin to thick to very

shoot: thickness medium medium thick

10 One-year-old medium medium short

shoot: length

of internode

15 Leaf blade: medium short to long

length medium

16 Leaf blade: narrow to narrow to medium to

width medium medium broad

22 Petiole: length short to short to long

medium medium

23 Petiole: extent medium small

of anthocyanin

coloration

from base

30 Flower: light pink dark pink

predominant

color at

balloon stage

34 Young fruit: large absent or very

extent of

anthocyanin small to small

overcolor

61 Fruit: size large medium

62 Fruit: height tall short to medium

86 Fruit: length medium medium to short to medium

of stalk long

98 Fruit: aperture moderately fully open

of locules (in open

transverse

section)

101 Time of medium to medium

harvest late

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which are as nearly true as is reasonable possible to make in a color illustration of this type:

FIG. 1 is a color photograph showing a general view of the apple tree named ‘BENITSURUGI’ at harvest time.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing a flower of ‘BENITSURUGI’.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph showing detached upper surface petals, pistils, flowering stalk including calyx and detached stamens of the flower of ‘BENITSURUGI’.

FIG. 4 is a color photograph showing fruits of ‘BENITSURUGI’.

FIG. 5 is a color photograph showing cross sections of fruits of ‘BENITSURUGI’.

FIG. 6 A is a color photograph showing the tree type of reference variety ‘SHINANO SWEET’.

FIG. 6 B is a color photograph showing the tree type of reference variety ‘SENSHU’.

FIG. 6 C is a color photograph showing the tree type of the present variety ‘BENITSURUGI’.

FIG. 7 is a color photograph showing one year old shoot of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (top), in comparison with ‘SENSHU’ (middle) and ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (bottom).

FIG. 8 is a color photograph showing leaves of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (center), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (left) and ‘SENSHU’ (right).

FIG. 9 A is a color photograph showing the petiole: extent of anthocyanin coloration from base of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (bottom), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (top).

FIG. 9 B is a color photograph showing a more detailed view of the petiole: extent of anthocyanin coloration from base of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (bottom), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (top).

FIG. 10 is a color photograph showing the flower bud of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (left), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (right).

FIG. 11 is a color photograph showing the young fruit of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (left), in comparison with ‘SENSHU’ (right).

FIG. 12 is a color photograph showing the fruit of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (center), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (top) and ‘SENSHU’ (bottom).

FIG. 13 is a color photograph showing another view of the fruit of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (center), in comparison with ‘SENSHU’ (left) and ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (right).

FIG. 14 is a color photograph showing the underside of fruit of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (middle), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (top) and ‘SENSHU’ (bottom).

FIG. 15 is a color photograph showing the fruit stalk of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (center), in comparison with ‘SENSHU’ (left) and ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (right).

FIG. 16 is a color photograph showing the fruit shape of core of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (middle), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (top) and ‘SENSHU’ (bottom).

FIG. 17 is a color photograph showing the aperture of locules in transverse section of the fruit of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (right), in comparison with ‘SENSHU’ (left).

FIG. 18 is a color photograph showing a general view of the fruit of ‘BENITSURUGI’.

Due to chemical and/or digital development, processing and printing, the plants or portions of plants depicted in the photographs may or may not be precisely accurate, when compared to the actual botanical specimens.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The botanical description and the photographs are of the ‘BENITSURUGI’ plants evaluated from 2020 to 2022 (including for the comparison with the reference plants ‘SENSHU’ and ‘SHINANO SWEET’. The age of the plants shown on the photographs and evaluated was 8 years, 5 months on Oct. 2, 2020. Values as provided are averages.

The plants shown on the photographs were grown at Morioka, Iwate, Japan.

The dates each photograph was taken are as follows:

•

• FIGS. 1 , 18 : Oct. 2, 2020, • FIGS. 2 , 3 : May 11, 2020 • FIGS. 4 , 5 : Oct. 9, 2020 • FIGS. 6 A, 6 B, 6 C : Sep. 29, 2022 • FIG. 7 : Dec. 23, 2022 • FIGS. 8 , 12 , 16 : Dec. 15, 2022 • FIG. 9 A, 9 B : Aug. 24, 2020 • FIG. 10 : May 10, 2021 • FIG. 11 : Jun. 21, 2021 • FIGS. 13 , 14 , 15 , 17 : Dec. 1, 2021

Colors are given according to The R.H.S. (Royal Horticultural Society) Colour Chart, Sixth Edition, 2015.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

TABLE 4

No. Characteristics States Values

1 Tree: vigor medium

2 Tree: type columnar

3 Tree: average height 3.2 m

4 Tree: average spread 1.2 m

5 Tree: habit not

applicable

6 Tree: type of bearing on spurs only

7 Tree: trunk color medium brown 166B

8 Tree: bark surface texture smooth-medium

9 One-year-old shoot: thickness thick to very 8.2 mm

thick

10 One-year-old shoot: length short 1.2 cm

of internode

11 One-year-old shoot: color medium brown 200A

on sunny side (dark

brown)

12 One-year-old shoot: strong

pubescence

(on distal half of shoot)

13 One-year-old shoot: number many

of lenticels

14 Leaf blade: attitude in outwards

relation to shoot

15 Leaf blade: length long 11.5 cm

16 Leaf blade: width medium to 6.6 cm

broad

17 Leaf blade: ratio length/ medium to 1.7

width large

18 Leaf blade: intensity of green dark green 139A

color (upper surface)

19 Leaf blade: intensity of green light green 142C

color (lower surface)

20 Leaf blade: incisions of serrate type 2

margin (upper half) (crenate to

serrate)

21 Leaf blade: pubescence on medium

lower side

22 Petiole: length long 4.6 cm

23 Petiole: extent of small 22.50%

anthocyanin

coloration from base

24 Petiole: color light green 145C

25 Leaf stipule: length 11.0 mm

26 Leaf stipule: width 2.5 mm

27 Leaf stipule: shape long round

28 Leaf stipule: color medium green 143B

29 Flowers: average number 5 flowers per

per spur cluster

30 Flower: predominant color purplish pink N74C

at balloon stage

31 Flower: diameter with petals small to 4.8 cm

pressed into horizontal medium

position

32 Flower: arrangement of petals overlapping

33 Flower: position of stigmas same level

relative to anthers

34 Young fruit: extent of absent or very 10.70%

anthocyanin overcolor small to small

35 Sepal: length 8.6 mm

36 Sepal: width 5.0 mm

37 Sepal: shape deltoid

38 Sepal: surface texture smooth with

medium

pubescence

39 Sepal: color light green 141D

40 Pedicel: length 16.3 mm

41 Pedicel: width 2.1 mm

42 Pedicel: surface texture smooth with

medium

pubescence

43 Pedicel: color medium 146D

brown green

44 Reproductive organs: number 20

of stamens per flower

45 Reproductive organs: number 5

of styles per flower

46 Reproductive organs: length 8.4 mm

of stamen

47 Reproductive organs: length 2.7 mm

of anther

48 Reproductive organs: length 6.2 mm

of style

49 Reproductive organs: color white 155A

of filament

50 Reproductive organs: color light yellow 5D

of anther

51 Reproductive organs: color light green 145B

of style

52 Reproductive organs: color light green 144D

of stigma

53 Reproductive organs: color light green 145B

of ovary

54 Seed: number per fruit 8.6

55 Seed: number per fruit cell 1.6

56 Seed: length 8.3 mm

57 Seed width 4.8 mm

58 Seed: depth 3.3 mm

59 Seed: shape obtuse

60 Seed: color (with RHS dark brown 187A

number)

61 Fruit: size medium 311.5 g

62 Fruit: height short to 8 cm

medium

63 Fruit: diameter medium 9.1 cm

64 Fruit: ratio height/diameter medium 0.88

65 Fruit: general shape globose

66 Fruit: ribbing absent or weak

67 Fruit: crowning at calyx end absent or weak

68 Fruit: size of eye very small to

small

69 Fruit: length of sepal short to

medium

70 Fruit: bloom of skin absent or weak

71 Fruit: greasiness of skin absent or weak

72 Fruit: surface texture of skin smooth

73 Fruit: ground color yellow green 150C

(yellow

green)

74 Fruit: relative area of large 87.7%

over color

75 Fruit: hue of over red 187B

color-with bloom (dark

removed purple

red)

76 Fruit: intensity of over color dark

77 Fruit: pattern of over color solid flush with

weakly defined

stripes

78 Fruit: width of stripes narrow to

medium

79 Fruit: intensity of stripes weak to medium

80 Fruit: area of russet around absent or small

stalk attachment

81 Fruit: area of russet on cheeks absent or small

82 Fruit: area of russet around absent or small

eye basin

83 Fruit: number of lenticels medium

84 Fruit: size of lenticels small to medium

85 Fruit: scarfskin very small to

small

86 Fruit: length of stalk short to medium 1.8 cm

87 Fruit: thickness of stalk thin to medium 3.1 mm

88 Fruit: depth of stalk cavity shallow medium 2.2 cm

89 Fruit: width of stalk cavity narrow medium 4 cm

90 Fruit: depth of eye basin medium 1.2 cm

91 Fruit: width of eye basin medium 3.4 cm

92 Fruit: firmness of flesh medium 15 lbs

93 Fruit: color of flesh cream 8D (light

yellow)

94 Fruit: sweetness of flesh medium 13.5 %

95 Fruit: acidity of flesh low 0.36 g/

100 ml

96 Fruit: water-core of flesh absent or very

slight

97 Fruit: shape of core flat round

98 Fruit: aperture of locules fully open

(in transverse section)

99 Pollination requirements flowers are self-

incompatible, S

genotype is S3S5

and requires

pollination by

another S

genotype diploid

apple

100 Time of beginning of early to medium May 9

flowering

101 Time of harvest medium October 2

102 Shipping quality moderate

103 Storage life 6-11 days

at room

temperature, 1

month at

refrigerated

temperature

104 Market use fresh, juice,

multiple use

105 Productivity (weight/plant) 22.5

kg/tree

(average

for 7-8

year-old

tree)

106 Resistance to: strong

Alternaria blotch

Other features of the plant are as follows:

•

• Disease resistance: Resistance to Alternaria blotch ( Alternaria alternata ) was observed. The new variety has the same susceptibility to Blotch ( Diplocarpon mali ), Powdery mildew ( Podosphaera leucotricha ) and Scab ( Venturia inaequalis ) as existing cultivars.