Apple tree named ‘BENITSURUGI’

Abstract

A new variety of apple tree ‘BENITSURUGI’ that has 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.

Description

[0001] Common name: Apple.

[0002] Botanical classification: Malus domestica (Suclow) Borkh.

[0003] Variety denomination: ‘BENITSURUGI’.CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0004] 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

[0005] 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

[0006] The parent varieties are ‘5-12786’ (male parent) (not patented) and ‘SANSA’ (female parent) (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,519), respectively.

[0007] 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.

[0008] The variety was reproduced asexually by vegetative reproduction by grafting one-year-old cuttings on rootstocks.

[0009] In 2005, crossing the parent varieties and collecting seeds.

[0010] In 2006, columnar type's seedlings are selected by SCAR682 DNA marker from growing seedlings.

[0011] In 2007, they were grafted on JM1 root stock.

[0012] In 2008, they were transplanted at breeding field. And selected individual plant.

[0013] In 2015, the instant plant was selected as a promising breeding line and provisionally named ‘Morioka 74’.

[0014] In 2016, growing test for local adaptability were started under confidentiality conditions at 16 public testing stations in Japan.

[0015] 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.

[0016] Cultivation of the variety does not require special conditions or treatments.

[0017] The variety is currently mainly intended for fruit production (table use).SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

[0018] 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).

[0019] A comparison with the male parent ‘5-12786’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages):

[0020] TABLE 1Male parentPresent variety‘5-12786’‘BENITSURUGI’No.CharacteristicsStatesStates 34Young fruit: extent mediumabsent or veryof anthocyaninsmall to smallovercolor101Time of harvestlatemedium

[0021] A comparison with the female parent ‘SANSA’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages):

[0022] TABLE 2Female parentPresent variety‘SANSA’‘BENITSURUGI’No.CharacteristicsStatesStates 2Tree: typeramifiedcolumnar 9One-year-old shoot:mediumthick to verythicknessthick 10One-year-old shoot:mediumshortlength of internode101Time of harvestearlymedium

[0023] A comparison with the reference varieties ‘SENSHU’ and ‘SHINANO SWEET’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages):

[0024] TABLE 3ReferenceReferencevarietyPresentvariety‘SHINANOvariety‘SENSHU’SWEET’‘BENITSURUGI’No.CharacteristicsStatesStatesStates 2Tree: typeramifiedramifiedcolumnar 6Tree: type of on spurs andon spurs andon spurs onlybearinglong shootslong shoots 9One-year-old thin tothin tothick to very shoot: thicknessmediummediumthick 10One-year-oldmediummediumshortshoot: length of internode 15Leaf blade: mediumshort tolonglengthmedium 16Leaf blade: narrow tonarrow tomedium towidthmediummediumbroad 22Petiole: lengthshort toshort tolongmediummedium 23Petiole: extent mediumsmallof anthocyanincoloration from base 30Flower: light pinkdark pinkpredominantcolor at balloon stage 34Young fruit: largeabsent or veryextent ofanthocyaninsmall to smallovercolor 61Fruit: sizelargemedium 62Fruit: heighttallshort to medium 86Fruit: length mediummedium toshort to mediumof stalklong 98Fruit: aperture moderatelyfully openof locules (in opentransversesection)101Time of medium tomediumharvestlateBRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] In the accompanying drawings, which are as nearly true as is reasonable possible to make in a color illustration of this type:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a color photograph showing a general view of the apple tree named ‘BENITSURUGI’ at harvest time.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing a flower of ‘BENITSURUGI’.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a color photograph showing detached upper surface petals, pistils, flowering stalk including calyx and detached stamens of the flower of ‘BENITSURUGI’.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a color photograph showing fruits of ‘BENITSURUGI’.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a color photograph showing cross sections of fruits of ‘BENITSURUGI’.

[0031] FIG. 6A is a color photograph showing the tree type of reference variety ‘SHINANO SWEET’.

[0032] FIG. 6B is a color photograph showing the tree type of reference variety ‘SENSHU’.

[0033] FIG. 6C is a color photograph showing the tree type of the present variety ‘BENITSURUGI’.

[0034] FIG. 7 is a color photograph showing one year old shoot of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (top), in comparison with ‘SENSHU’ (middle) and ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (bottom).

[0035] FIG. 8 is a color photograph showing leaves of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (center), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (left) and ‘SENSHU’ (right).

[0036] FIG. 9A is a color photograph showing the petiole: extent of anthocyanin coloration from base of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (bottom), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (top).

[0037] FIG. 9B 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).

[0038] FIG. 10 is a color photograph showing the flower bud of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (left), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (right).

[0039] FIG. 11 is a color photograph showing the young fruit of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (left), in comparison with ‘SENSHU’ (right).

[0040] FIG. 12 is a color photograph showing the fruit of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (center), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (top) and ‘SENSHU’ (bottom).

[0041] FIG. 13 is a color photograph showing another view of the fruit of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (center), in comparison with ‘SENSHU’ (left) and ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (right).

[0042] FIG. 14 is a color photograph showing the underside of fruit of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (middle), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (top) and ‘SENSHU’ (bottom).

[0043] FIG. 15 is a color photograph showing the fruit stalk of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (center), in comparison with ‘SENSHU’ (left) and ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (right).

[0044] FIG. 16 is a color photograph showing the fruit shape of core of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (middle), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (top) and ‘SENSHU’ (bottom).

[0045] 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).

[0046] FIG. 18 is a color photograph showing a general view of the fruit of ‘BENITSURUGI’.

[0047] 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

[0048] 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.

[0049] The plants shown on the photographs were grown at Morioka, Iwate, Japan.

[0050] The dates each photograph was taken are as follows:

[0051] FIGS. 1, 18: Oct. 2, 2020,

[0052] FIGS. 2, 3: May 11, 2020

[0053] FIGS. 4, 5: Oct. 9, 2020

[0054] FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C: Sep. 29, 2022

[0055] FIG. 7: Dec. 23, 2022

[0056] FIGS. 8, 12, 16: Dec. 15, 2022

[0057] FIG. 9A, 9B: Aug. 24, 2020

[0058] FIG. 10: May 10, 2021

[0059] FIG. 11: Jun. 21, 2021

[0060] FIGS. 13, 14, 15, 17: Dec. 1, 2021

[0061] Colors are given according to The R.H.S. (Royal Horticultural Society) Colour Chart, Sixth Edition, 2015.BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0062] TABLE 4No.CharacteristicsStatesValues1Tree: vigormedium2Tree: typecolumnar3Tree: average height3.2 m4Tree: average spread1.2 m5Tree: habitnot applicable6Tree: type of bearingon spurs only7Tree: trunk colormedium brown166B8Tree: bark surface texturesmooth-medium9One-year-old shoot: thicknessthick to very 8.2 mmthick10One-year-old shoot: length short1.2 cmof internode11One-year-old shoot: color medium brown200Aon sunny side(darkbrown)12One-year-old shoot: strongpubescence (on distal half of shoot)13One-year-old shoot: number manyof lenticels14Leaf blade: attitude in outwardsrelation to shoot15Leaf blade: lengthlong11.5 cm16Leaf blade: widthmedium to 6.6 cmbroad17Leaf blade: ratio length / medium to 1.7widthlarge18Leaf blade: intensity of green dark green139Acolor (upper surface)19Leaf blade: intensity of green light green142Ccolor (lower surface)20Leaf blade: incisions of serrate type 2margin (upper half)(crenate toserrate)21Leaf blade: pubescence on mediumlower side22Petiole: lengthlong4.6 cm23Petiole: extent of small22.50%anthocyanincoloration from base24Petiole: colorlight green145C25Leaf stipule: length11.0 mm26Leaf stipule: width2.5 mm27Leaf stipule: shapelong round28Leaf stipule: colormedium green143B29Flowers: average number5 flowers perper spurcluster30Flower: predominant color purplish pinkN74Cat balloon stage31Flower: diameter with petals small to 4.8 cmpressed into horizontal mediumposition32Flower: arrangement of petalsoverlapping33Flower: position of stigmas same levelrelative to anthers34Young fruit: extent of absent or very10.70%anthocyanin overcolorsmall to small35Sepal: length8.6 mm36Sepal: width5.0 mm37Sepal: shapedeltoid38Sepal: surface texturesmooth withmediumpubescence39Sepal: colorlight green141D40Pedicel: length16.3 mm41Pedicel: width2.1 mm42Pedicel: surface texturesmooth withmediumpubescence43Pedicel: colormedium 146Dbrown green44Reproductive organs: number 20of stamens per flower45Reproductive organs: number 5of styles per flower46Reproductive organs: length 8.4 mmof stamen47Reproductive organs: length 2.7 mmof anther48Reproductive organs: length 6.2 mmof style49Reproductive organs: color white155Aof filament50Reproductive organs: color light yellow5Dof anther51Reproductive organs: color light green145Bof style52Reproductive organs: color light green144Dof stigma53Reproductive organs: color light green145Bof ovary54Seed: number per fruit8.655Seed: number per fruit cell1.656Seed: length8.3 mm57Seed width4.8 mm58Seed: depth3.3 mm59Seed: shapeobtuse60Seed: color (with RHS dark brown187Anumber)61Fruit: sizemedium311.5 g62Fruit: heightshort to 8 cmmedium63Fruit: diametermedium9.1 cm64Fruit: ratio height / diametermedium0.8865Fruit: general shapeglobose66Fruit: ribbingabsent or weak67Fruit: crowning at calyx endabsent or weak68Fruit: size of eyevery small tosmall69Fruit: length of sepalshort to medium70Fruit: bloom of skinabsent or weak71Fruit: greasiness of skinabsent or weak72Fruit: surface texture of skinsmooth73Fruit: ground coloryellow green150C (yellowgreen)74Fruit: relative area of large87.7%over color75Fruit: hue of over red187B color-with bloom (darkremovedpurplered)76Fruit: intensity of over colordark77Fruit: pattern of over colorsolid flush withweakly definedstripes78Fruit: width of stripesnarrow tomedium79Fruit: intensity of stripesweak to medium80Fruit: area of russet around absent or smallstalk attachment81Fruit: area of russet on cheeksabsent or small82Fruit: area of russet aroundabsent or smalleye basin83Fruit: number of lenticelsmedium84Fruit: size of lenticelssmall to medium85Fruit: scarfskinvery small tosmall86Fruit: length of stalkshort to medium1.8 cm87Fruit: thickness of stalkthin to medium3.1 mm88Fruit: depth of stalk cavityshallow medium2.2 cm89Fruit: width of stalk cavitynarrow medium4 cm90Fruit: depth of eye basinmedium1.2 cm91Fruit: width of eye basinmedium3.4 cm92Fruit: firmness of fleshmedium15 lbs93Fruit: color of fleshcream8D (light yellow)94Fruit: sweetness of fleshmedium13.5 %95Fruit: acidity of fleshlow0.36 g / 100 ml96Fruit: water-core of fleshabsent or veryslight97Fruit: shape of coreflat round98Fruit: aperture of locules fully open(in transverse section)99Pollination requirementsflowers are self-incompatible, Sgenotype is S3S5and requirespollination byanother Sgenotype diploidapple100Time of beginning of early to mediumMay 9flowering101Time of harvestmediumOctober 2102Shipping qualitymoderate103Storage life6-11 days at roomtemperature, 1month atrefrigeratedtemperature104Market usefresh, juice,multiple use105Productivity (weight / plant)22.5kg / tree(average for 7-8year-oldtree)106Resistance to: strongAlternaria blotch

[0063] Other features of the plant are as follows:

[0064] 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.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0048]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.

[0049]The plants shown on the photographs were grown at Morioka, Iwate, Japan.

[0050]The dates each photograph was taken are as follows:[0051]FIGS. 1, 18: Oct. 2, 2020,[0052]FIGS. 2, 3: May 11, 2020[0053]FIGS. 4, 5: Oct. 9, 2020[0054]FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C: Sep. 29, 2022[0055]FIG. 7: Dec. 23, 2022[0056]FIGS. 8, 12, 16: Dec. 15, 2022[0057]FIG. 9A, 9B: Aug. 24, 2020[0058]FIG. 10: May 10, 2021[0059]FIG. 11: Jun. 21, 2021[0060]FIGS. 13, 14, 15, 17: Dec. 1, 2021

[0061]Colors are given according to The R.H.S. (Royal Horticultural Society) Colour Chart, Sixth Edition, 2015.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0062]

TABLE 4No.CharacteristicsStatesValues1Tree: vigormedium2Tree: typecolumnar3...

[0001] Common name: Apple.

[0002] Botanical classification: Malus domestica (Suclow) Borkh.

[0003] Variety denomination: ‘BENITSURUGI’.CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0004] 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

[0005] 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

[0006] The parent varieties are ‘5-12786’ (male parent) (not patented) and ‘SANSA’ (female parent) (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,519), respectively.

[0007] 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.

[0008] The variety was reproduced asexually by vegetative reproduction by grafting one-year-old cuttings on rootstocks.

[0009] In 2005, crossing the parent varieties and collecting seeds.

[0010] In 2006, columnar type's seedlings are selected by SCAR682 DNA marker from growing seedlings.

[0011] In 2007, they were grafted on JM1 root stock.

[0012] In 2008, they were transplanted at breeding field. And selected individual plant.

[0013] In 2015, the instant plant was selected as a promising breeding line and provisionally named ‘Morioka 74’.

[0014] In 2016, growing test for local adaptability were started under confidentiality conditions at 16 public testing stations in Japan.

[0015] 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.

[0016] Cultivation of the variety does not require special conditions or treatments.

[0017] The variety is currently mainly intended for fruit production (table use).SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

[0018] 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).

[0019] A comparison with the male parent ‘5-12786’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages):

[0020] TABLE 1Male parentPresent variety‘5-12786’‘BENITSURUGI’No.CharacteristicsStatesStates 34Young fruit: extent mediumabsent or veryof anthocyaninsmall to smallovercolor101Time of harvestlatemedium

[0021] A comparison with the female parent ‘SANSA’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages):

[0022] TABLE 2Female parentPresent variety‘SANSA’‘BENITSURUGI’No.CharacteristicsStatesStates 2Tree: typeramifiedcolumnar 9One-year-old shoot:mediumthick to verythicknessthick 10One-year-old shoot:mediumshortlength of internode101Time of harvestearlymedium

[0023] A comparison with the reference varieties ‘SENSHU’ and ‘SHINANO SWEET’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages):

[0024] TABLE 3ReferenceReferencevarietyPresentvariety‘SHINANOvariety‘SENSHU’SWEET’‘BENITSURUGI’No.CharacteristicsStatesStatesStates 2Tree: typeramifiedramifiedcolumnar 6Tree: type of on spurs andon spurs andon spurs onlybearinglong shootslong shoots 9One-year-old thin tothin tothick to very shoot: thicknessmediummediumthick 10One-year-oldmediummediumshortshoot: length of internode 15Leaf blade: mediumshort tolonglengthmedium 16Leaf blade: narrow tonarrow tomedium towidthmediummediumbroad 22Petiole: lengthshort toshort tolongmediummedium 23Petiole: extent mediumsmallof anthocyanincoloration from base 30Flower: light pinkdark pinkpredominantcolor at balloon stage 34Young fruit: largeabsent or veryextent ofanthocyaninsmall to smallovercolor 61Fruit: sizelargemedium 62Fruit: heighttallshort to medium 86Fruit: length mediummedium toshort to mediumof stalklong 98Fruit: aperture moderatelyfully openof locules (in opentransversesection)101Time of medium tomediumharvestlateBRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] In the accompanying drawings, which are as nearly true as is reasonable possible to make in a color illustration of this type:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a color photograph showing a general view of the apple tree named ‘BENITSURUGI’ at harvest time.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing a flower of ‘BENITSURUGI’.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a color photograph showing detached upper surface petals, pistils, flowering stalk including calyx and detached stamens of the flower of ‘BENITSURUGI’.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a color photograph showing fruits of ‘BENITSURUGI’.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a color photograph showing cross sections of fruits of ‘BENITSURUGI’.

[0031] FIG. 6A is a color photograph showing the tree type of reference variety ‘SHINANO SWEET’.

[0032] FIG. 6B is a color photograph showing the tree type of reference variety ‘SENSHU’.

[0033] FIG. 6C is a color photograph showing the tree type of the present variety ‘BENITSURUGI’.

[0034] FIG. 7 is a color photograph showing one year old shoot of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (top), in comparison with ‘SENSHU’ (middle) and ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (bottom).

[0035] FIG. 8 is a color photograph showing leaves of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (center), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (left) and ‘SENSHU’ (right).

[0036] FIG. 9A is a color photograph showing the petiole: extent of anthocyanin coloration from base of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (bottom), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (top).

[0037] FIG. 9B 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).

[0038] FIG. 10 is a color photograph showing the flower bud of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (left), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (right).

[0039] FIG. 11 is a color photograph showing the young fruit of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (left), in comparison with ‘SENSHU’ (right).

[0040] FIG. 12 is a color photograph showing the fruit of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (center), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (top) and ‘SENSHU’ (bottom).

[0041] FIG. 13 is a color photograph showing another view of the fruit of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (center), in comparison with ‘SENSHU’ (left) and ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (right).

[0042] FIG. 14 is a color photograph showing the underside of fruit of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (middle), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (top) and ‘SENSHU’ (bottom).

[0043] FIG. 15 is a color photograph showing the fruit stalk of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (center), in comparison with ‘SENSHU’ (left) and ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (right).

[0044] FIG. 16 is a color photograph showing the fruit shape of core of ‘BENITSURUGI’ (middle), in comparison with ‘SHINANO SWEET’ (top) and ‘SENSHU’ (bottom).

[0045] 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).

[0046] FIG. 18 is a color photograph showing a general view of the fruit of ‘BENITSURUGI’.

[0047] 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

[0048] 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.

[0049] The plants shown on the photographs were grown at Morioka, Iwate, Japan.

[0050] The dates each photograph was taken are as follows:

[0051] FIGS. 1, 18: Oct. 2, 2020,

[0052] FIGS. 2, 3: May 11, 2020

[0053] FIGS. 4, 5: Oct. 9, 2020

[0054] FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C: Sep. 29, 2022

[0055] FIG. 7: Dec. 23, 2022

[0056] FIGS. 8, 12, 16: Dec. 15, 2022

[0057] FIG. 9A, 9B: Aug. 24, 2020

[0058] FIG. 10: May 10, 2021

[0059] FIG. 11: Jun. 21, 2021

[0060] FIGS. 13, 14, 15, 17: Dec. 1, 2021

[0061] Colors are given according to The R.H.S. (Royal Horticultural Society) Colour Chart, Sixth Edition, 2015.BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0062] TABLE 4No.CharacteristicsStatesValues1Tree: vigormedium2Tree: typecolumnar3Tree: average height3.2 m4Tree: average spread1.2 m5Tree: habitnot applicable6Tree: type of bearingon spurs only7Tree: trunk colormedium brown166B8Tree: bark surface texturesmooth-medium9One-year-old shoot: thicknessthick to very 8.2 mmthick10One-year-old shoot: length short1.2 cmof internode11One-year-old shoot: color medium brown200Aon sunny side(darkbrown)12One-year-old shoot: strongpubescence (on distal half of shoot)13One-year-old shoot: number manyof lenticels14Leaf blade: attitude in outwardsrelation to shoot15Leaf blade: lengthlong11.5 cm16Leaf blade: widthmedium to 6.6 cmbroad17Leaf blade: ratio length / medium to 1.7widthlarge18Leaf blade: intensity of green dark green139Acolor (upper surface)19Leaf blade: intensity of green light green142Ccolor (lower surface)20Leaf blade: incisions of serrate type 2margin (upper half)(crenate toserrate)21Leaf blade: pubescence on mediumlower side22Petiole: lengthlong4.6 cm23Petiole: extent of small22.50%anthocyanincoloration from base24Petiole: colorlight green145C25Leaf stipule: length11.0 mm26Leaf stipule: width2.5 mm27Leaf stipule: shapelong round28Leaf stipule: colormedium green143B29Flowers: average number5 flowers perper spurcluster30Flower: predominant color purplish pinkN74Cat balloon stage31Flower: diameter with petals small to 4.8 cmpressed into horizontal mediumposition32Flower: arrangement of petalsoverlapping33Flower: position of stigmas same levelrelative to anthers34Young fruit: extent of absent or very10.70%anthocyanin overcolorsmall to small35Sepal: length8.6 mm36Sepal: width5.0 mm37Sepal: shapedeltoid38Sepal: surface texturesmooth withmediumpubescence39Sepal: colorlight green141D40Pedicel: length16.3 mm41Pedicel: width2.1 mm42Pedicel: surface texturesmooth withmediumpubescence43Pedicel: colormedium 146Dbrown green44Reproductive organs: number 20of stamens per flower45Reproductive organs: number 5of styles per flower46Reproductive organs: length 8.4 mmof stamen47Reproductive organs: length 2.7 mmof anther48Reproductive organs: length 6.2 mmof style49Reproductive organs: color white155Aof filament50Reproductive organs: color light yellow5Dof anther51Reproductive organs: color light green145Bof style52Reproductive organs: color light green144Dof stigma53Reproductive organs: color light green145Bof ovary54Seed: number per fruit8.655Seed: number per fruit cell1.656Seed: length8.3 mm57Seed width4.8 mm58Seed: depth3.3 mm59Seed: shapeobtuse60Seed: color (with RHS dark brown187Anumber)61Fruit: sizemedium311.5 g62Fruit: heightshort to 8 cmmedium63Fruit: diametermedium9.1 cm64Fruit: ratio height / diametermedium0.8865Fruit: general shapeglobose66Fruit: ribbingabsent or weak67Fruit: crowning at calyx endabsent or weak68Fruit: size of eyevery small tosmall69Fruit: length of sepalshort to medium70Fruit: bloom of skinabsent or weak71Fruit: greasiness of skinabsent or weak72Fruit: surface texture of skinsmooth73Fruit: ground coloryellow green150C (yellowgreen)74Fruit: relative area of large87.7%over color75Fruit: hue of over red187B color-with bloom (darkremovedpurplered)76Fruit: intensity of over colordark77Fruit: pattern of over colorsolid flush withweakly definedstripes78Fruit: width of stripesnarrow tomedium79Fruit: intensity of stripesweak to medium80Fruit: area of russet around absent or smallstalk attachment81Fruit: area of russet on cheeksabsent or small82Fruit: area of russet aroundabsent or smalleye basin83Fruit: number of lenticelsmedium84Fruit: size of lenticelssmall to medium85Fruit: scarfskinvery small tosmall86Fruit: length of stalkshort to medium1.8 cm87Fruit: thickness of stalkthin to medium3.1 mm88Fruit: depth of stalk cavityshallow medium2.2 cm89Fruit: width of stalk cavitynarrow medium4 cm90Fruit: depth of eye basinmedium1.2 cm91Fruit: width of eye basinmedium3.4 cm92Fruit: firmness of fleshmedium15 lbs93Fruit: color of fleshcream8D (light yellow)94Fruit: sweetness of fleshmedium13.5 %95Fruit: acidity of fleshlow0.36 g / 100 ml96Fruit: water-core of fleshabsent or veryslight97Fruit: shape of coreflat round98Fruit: aperture of locules fully open(in transverse section)99Pollination requirementsflowers are self-incompatible, Sgenotype is S3S5and requirespollination byanother Sgenotype diploidapple100Time of beginning of early to mediumMay 9flowering101Time of harvestmediumOctober 2102Shipping qualitymoderate103Storage life6-11 days at roomtemperature, 1month atrefrigeratedtemperature104Market usefresh, juice,multiple use105Productivity (weight / plant)22.5kg / tree(average for 7-8year-oldtree)106Resistance to: strongAlternaria blotch

[0063] Other features of the plant are as follows:

[0064] 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.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0048]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.

[0049]The plants shown on the photographs were grown at Morioka, Iwate, Japan.

[0050]The dates each photograph was taken are as follows:[0051]FIGS. 1, 18: Oct. 2, 2020,[0052]FIGS. 2, 3: May 11, 2020[0053]FIGS. 4, 5: Oct. 9, 2020[0054]FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C: Sep. 29, 2022[0055]FIG. 7: Dec. 23, 2022[0056]FIGS. 8, 12, 16: Dec. 15, 2022[0057]FIG. 9A, 9B: Aug. 24, 2020[0058]FIG. 10: May 10, 2021[0059]FIG. 11: Jun. 21, 2021[0060]FIGS. 13, 14, 15, 17: Dec. 1, 2021

[0061]Colors are given according to The R.H.S. (Royal Horticultural Society) Colour Chart, Sixth Edition, 2015.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0062]

TABLE 4No.CharacteristicsStatesValues1Tree: vigormedium2Tree: typecolumnar3...

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree named ‘BENITSURUGI’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.

Images