Performance of Scab Resistant Apple Cultivars at the Smithfield Experimental Farm

Abstract

Scab resistant apple cultivars developed from the breeding program initiated in 1949 at the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario, include ‘Macfree,’ ‘Moira,’ ‘Trent,’ ‘Britegold,’ ‘Murray,’ ‘Richelieu,’ and ‘Rouville.’ Three additional scab resistant selections ‘O-637,’ ‘O-654’ and ‘O-662’ show promise as fresh market and processing apples. ‘Murray’ was the highest yielding cultivar but ‘Moira’ had the highest cumulative yield efficiency on all rootstocks. ‘Britegold’ and ‘Richelieu’ had low yields. Fruit size of ‘Macfree,’ ‘Moira,’ ‘Murray,’ ‘Richelieu’ and ‘O-662,’ was smaller than ‘McIntosh’ while fruit size of ‘Rouville’ was larger. ‘Trent’ had the best storage life, retaining firmness for at least 6 months at 2°C. The fruit of ‘Macfree,’ ‘O-637,’ ‘O-654’ and ‘O-662’ was resistant to cedar apple rust although the leaves were susceptible and the fruit of all cultivars was susceptible to quince rust. ‘Britegold,’ ‘Macfree’ and ‘O-637’ showed good resistance to fire blight. These cultivars offer a range in harvest dates from late August with ‘Murray’ to late October with ‘Trent.’