‘Summer Dream’, an Early Season Apple Cultivar with Excellent Taste

Abstract

‘Summer Dream’ is an early-season, high-quality, light red apple ( Malusx domesticaBorkh.) with excellent appearance. The original seedling was derived from a cross between ‘Tsugaru’ and ‘Natsumidori’ in 1989 at the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science (NIHHS) of the Rural Development Administration (RDA). It was initially selected in 2001 for its high fruit quality and very early ripening time. After regional adaptability testing at five sites over three years from 2002 to 2005 as ‘Wonkyo Ga-26’, it was finally selected in 2005. It ripens in early August about one week earlier than the parent ‘Tsugaru’ and two weeks earlier than ‘Gala’. The fruit is small to medium in size and has a crisp texture with abundant juiciness. The fruit is oblate in shape with a yellowish-brown background skin color overlaid with a light red blush. Average fruit weight is 199 g and total soluble solids concentration is 12.8°Brix at maturity. Acidity of ‘Summer Dream’ is 0.4%, higher than the 0.31% recorded for ‘Tsugaru’. ‘Summer Dream’ shows good cross compatibility with other major apple varieties in Korea including ‘Fuji’, ‘Hongro’, and ‘Tsugaru’. Based on natural infection in the field, ‘Summer Dream’ apple is susceptible to anthracnose ( Colletotrichum gloeosporiodes(Penz) Sacc.) and aphid ( Ovatus malisuctusMats.).