APPLICATIONS UNDER EXAMINATION
APPLE
APPLE
(Malus domestica)
Proposed denomination:
Application number:
Application date:
Applicant:
Agent in Canada:
Breeder:
‘Nicogreen’
07-6069
2007/12/17
Better3fruit N.V., Heverlee, Belgium
Summerland Varieties Corp. (SVC), Summerland, British Columbia
Johan Nicolai, N.V. Johan Nicolai, Sint-Truiden, Belgium
Varieties used for comparison: ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Golden Delicious’
Summary: The one-year-old shoot of ‘Nicogreen’ is medium to thick with few lenticels while the shoot of ‘Granny Smith’ is
thin with a medium number of lenticels and that of ‘Golden Delicious’ is thin to medium thick with many lenticels. The sunny
side of the one-year-old shoot of ‘Nicogreen’ is reddish brown whereas it is light brown for ‘Granny Smith’ and dark brown
for ‘Golden Delicious’. The time of flowering begins late in the season for ‘Nicogreen’ while it begins mid-season for
‘Golden Delicious’. The leaf and petiole of ‘Nicogreen’ are longer than those of both reference varieties. The fruit of
‘Nicogreen’ is medium sized while that of ‘Golden Delicious’ is large. The fruit of ‘Nicogreen’ is smaller in diameter than
that of ‘Granny Smith’ and shorter and smaller in diameter than that of ‘Golden Delicious’. The fruit of ‘Nicogreen’ is
globose whereas the fruit of ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Golden Delicious’ are conic shaped. The ground colour of the fruit of
‘Nicogreen’ is green while it is yellow for that of ‘Golden Delicious’. The fruit of ‘Nicogreen’ has many medium sized
lenticels while that of ‘Granny Smith’ has many large lenticels and that of ‘Golden Delicious’ has few small lenticels. The
stalk of the fruit of ‘Nicogreen’ is shorter than that of ‘Golden Delicious’.
Description:
TREE: medium to strong vigour, ramified type, spreading growth habit, bearing fruit on spurs and long shoots
ONE-YEAR OLD SHOOT: medium to thick, reddish brown on sunny side, sparse to medium pubescence, few lenticels
LEAF: outwards attitude, medium to large length to width ratio, medium green, serrate type two margin, absent or sparse
pubescence on lower side
PETIOLE: small amount of anthocyanin colouration extending from base
FLOWER: begins flowering late-season, dark pink at balloon stage, large diameter when pressed into horizontal position,
petal arrangement is intermediate (between not touching and overlapping), stigma same level as anthers
FRUIT: absent or very small extent of anthocyanin overcolour on young fruit, medium size, medium to large height to
diameter ratio, globose shape, absent or weak ribbing, moderate crowning at calyx end, large eye, medium to long sepals,
absent or small area of russet around stalk on cheeks and around eye basin, moderately open aperture of locules
SKIN: absent or weak bloom, absent or weak greasiness, green ground colour, absent or very small area of overcolour, absent
to very narrow stripes, many medium sized lenticels
STALK: medium to thick, stalk cavity medium to deep and medium to broad
EYE BASIN: medium to deep, medium to broad
FLESH: firm, white
QUALITY: mid to late harvest maturity, early eating maturity
Origin and Breeding: ‘Nicogreen’ originated from a controlled cross-pollination between the variety ‘Delcorf’, as the
female parent, and the variety ‘Granny Smith’, as the male parent, in May 1989 in Sint-Truiden, Belgium. Seeds were
harvested from the cross-pollinated fruit in November 1989 and germinated in March 1990 at the University of Leuven in
Belgium. Between 1990 and 1991, the resulting seedlings were grown in a nursery at K.U. Leuven in Belgium. In the winter
of 1991 to 1992, the top end of the seedlings were grafted onto M27 VF rootstocks. In 1992 and 1993, the bench grafted
genotypes were cultivated in the fruit tree nursery of NV Johan Nicolaï in Sint-Truiden, Belgium and in March 1994, they
were replanted to the 1st screening parcel of NV Johan Nicolaï in Fernelmont, Belgium. In September 1996, first fruit was
Plant Varieties Journal, April 2016, No. 99
APPLICATIONS UNDER EXAMINATION
APPLE
observed and the new variety was selected for further evaluation. In the winter of 1996 to 1997, 35 trees were grafted onto
M9 rootstocks and in March 1998 planted on 2nd screening parcel of NV Johan Nicolaï in Sint-Truiden, Belgium. Between
September 1999 and 2003, observations were made and final selection of the trees occurred. ‘Nicogreen’ was selected based
on its fruit quality, storability and appearance.
Tests and Trials: The comparative trial of ‘Nicogreen’ was conducted in 2014 and 2015 in the Summerland Varieties
Corporation test plot, at 4200 Block, Highway 97, in Summerland, British Columbia, Canada. The trial was planted in 2012
and included 9 trees each of the candidate and reference varieties which were grafted onto rootstock variety ‘M9’ using a
super spindle planting scheme. The trees were planted 0.45 metres apart in rows that were spaced 3 metres apart from each
other. Observations and measurements were taken from 9 plants, or 10 parts of plants, of the candidate and reference
varieties.
Comparison table for ‘Nicogreen’
‘Nicogreen’
‘Granny Smith’*
‘Golden Delicious’*
Leaf blade length (cm)
mean
std. deviation
10.7
1.6
9.2
0.4
9.6
0.6
Petiole length (cm)
mean
std. deviation
3.9
1.3
3.0
0.2
2.8
0.4
Fruit height (cm)
mean
std. deviation
7.3
0.5
7.5
0.3
8.4
0.5
Fruit diameter (cm)
mean
std. deviation
7.1
0.6
8.7
0.4
8.4
0.4
Fruit stalk length (cm)
mean
std. deviation
2.2
0.5
2.1
0.6
2.8
0.3
*reference varieties
Plant Varieties Journal, April 2016, No. 99
APPLICATIONS UNDER EXAMINATION
APPLE
Apple: ‘Nicogreen’ (centre) with reference varieties ‘Golden Delicious’ (left) and ‘Granny Smith’ (right)
Apple: ‘Nicogreen’ (centre) with reference varieties ‘Golden Delicious’ (left) and ‘Granny Smith’ (right)
Proposed denomination:
Application number:
Application date:
Applicant:
Agent in Canada:
Breeder:
‘Nicoter’
07-6070
2007/12/17
Better3fruit N.V., Heverlee, Belgium
Summerland Varieties Corp. (SVC), Summerland, British Columbia
Johan Nicolai, N.V. Johan Nicolai, Sint-Truiden, Belgium
Varieties used for comparison: ‘Royal Gala’ and ‘SPA493’
Summary: The internode length of the one-year-old shoot of ‘Nicoter’ is shorter than that of both reference varieties. The
sunny side of the one-year-old shoot of ‘Nicoter’ is reddish brown while that of both reference varieties is dark brown. The
Plant Varieties Journal, April 2016, No. 99
APPLICATIONS UNDER EXAMINATION
APPLE
distal half of the one-year-old shoot of ‘Nicoter’ has medium to dense pubescence while that of both reference varieties have
very sparse pubescence. The leaf of ‘Nicoter’ is longer than the leaf of ‘SPA493’. The petiole of ‘Nicoter’ is longer than the
petiole of both references. The extent of anthocyanin overcolour on the young fruit of ‘Nicoter’ is absent or very small while
that of ‘Royal Gala’ is of small to medium extent. The fruit of ‘Nicoter’ is taller than that of ‘SPA493’. The fruit of ‘Nicoter’
is conic shaped whereas the fruit of ‘SPA493’ is obloid. The calyx end of the fruit of ‘Nicoter’ has absent or weak crowning
while that of ‘Royal Gala’ has strong crowning. The fruit of ‘Nicoter’ has a shorter sepal than that of ‘Royal Gala’. The fruit
skin has an absent or weak bloom while that of ‘SPA493’ has a strong bloom. The area of overcolour on the fruit of ‘Nicoter’
is large, while it is medium sized for ‘Royal Gala’ and very large for ‘SPA493’. The overcolour on the fruit of ‘Nicoter’ is
distributed as a solid flush while it is distributed as a weakly defined flush with defined stripes for ‘Royal Gala’. The area of
russet around the stalk attachment of the fruit of ‘Nicoter’ is absent or small while it is large for ‘SPA493’. The fruit skin of
‘Nicoter’ has a medium number of small to medium sized lenticels whereas that of ‘Royal Gala’ has many large lenticels.
The stalk of the fruit of ‘Nicoter’ is shorter than that of both reference varieties. The stalk cavity of the fruit of ‘Nicoter’ is of
medium depth while it is deep for that of ‘SPA493’.
Description:
TREE: medium vigour, ramified type, spreading growth habit, bearing fruit on spurs only
ONE-YEAR OLD SHOOT: medium thickness, reddish brown on sunny side, medium to dense pubescence, medium number
of lenticels
LEAF: outwards attitude, medium to large length to width ratio, medium green, serrate type one margin, absent or sparse
pubescence on lower side
PETIOLE: small to medium amount of anthocyanin colouration extending from base
FLOWER: begins flowering early to mid-season, light pink at balloon stage, small to medium diameter when pressed into
horizontal position, petal arrangement free, stigma located above anthers
FRUIT: absent or very small extent of anthocyanin overcolour on young fruit, medium to large, medium height to diameter
ratio, conic shape, absent or weak ribbing, absent or weak crowning at calyx end, medium to large eye, short to medium
length sepals, absent or small area of russet around stalk on cheeks and around eye basin, moderately open aperture of locules
SKIN: absent or weak bloom, absent or weak greasiness, green ground colour, large area of medium pink red overcolour
distributed as a solid flush
LENTICELS: medium number, small to medium size
STALK: medium thickness, medium depth and broad stalk cavity
EYE BASIN: shallow to medium depth, medium width
FLESH: medium to firm, cream colour
QUALITY: mid-season harvest maturity, early eating maturity
Origin and Breeding: ‘Nicoter’ originated from a controlled cross-pollination between the variety ‘Gala’, as the female
parent, and the variety ‘Braeburn’, as the male parent, in May 1993 in Sint-Truiden, Belgium. Seeds were harvested from the
cross-pollinated fruit in November 1993 and germinated in March 1994 at the University of Leuven in Belgium. In 1994, the
resulting seedlings were grown in a nursery at K.U. Leuven in Belgium. In the winter of 1994 to 1995, the top end of the
seedlings were grafted onto M27 VF rootstocks. In 1995, the bench grafted genotypes were cultivated in the fruit tree nursery
of NV Johan Nicolaï in Sint-Truiden, Belgium and in March 1996, they were replanted to 1st screening parcel of NV Johan
Nicolaï in Fernelmont, Belgium. In September 1997, first fruit was observed and the new variety was selected for further
evaluation. In the winter of 1997 to 1998, 19 trees were grafted onto interstock Golden Delicious/rootstock M9 and planted
on a 2nd screening parcel of NV Johan Nicolaï in Sint-Truiden, Belgium. Between September 2000 and 2003, observations
were made and final selection of the trees occurred. ‘Nicoter’ was selected based on its fruit quality, storability and
appearance.
Tests and Trials: The comparative trial of ‘Nicoter’ was conducted in 2014 and 2015 in the Summerland Varieties
Corporation test plot, at 4200 Block, Highway 97, in Summerland, British Columbia, Canada. The trial was planted in 2012
and included 16 trees each of the candidate and reference varieties which were grafted onto rootstock variety ‘M9’ using a
super spindle planting scheme. The trees were planted 0.45 metres apart in rows that were spaced 3 metres apart from each
other. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of the candidate and reference varieties.
Plant Varieties Journal, April 2016, No. 99
APPLICATIONS UNDER EXAMINATION
APPLE
Comparison table for ‘Nicoter’
‘Nicoter’
‘Royal Gala’*
‘SPA493’*
Internode length on one-year-old shoot (cm)
mean
std. deviation
2.2
0.5
3.1
0.5
3.3
0.6
Leaf blade length (cm)
mean
std. deviation
10.7
1.4
10.4
1.1
8.8
0.9
Petiole length (cm)
mean
std. deviation
4.0
0.5
2.4
0.3
2.8
0.4
Fruit height (cm)
mean
std. deviation
7.16
0.57
7.26
0.39
6.67
0.41
Fruit stalk length (cm)
mean
std. deviation
1.68
0.23
3.0
0.49
3.36
0.67
*reference varieties
Plant Varieties Journal, April 2016, No. 99
APPLICATIONS UNDER EXAMINATION
APPLE
Apple: ‘Nicoter’ (centre) with reference varieties ‘Royal Gala’ (left) and ‘SPA493’ (right)
Proposed denomination:
Application number:
Application date:
Applicant:
Agent in Canada:
Breeder:
‘Zonga’
12-7456
2012/01/03
Better3fruit N.V., Heverlee, Belgium
Summerland Varieties Corp. (SVC), Summerland, British Columbia
Inge De Wit, Better3fruit N.V., Heverlee, Belgium
Varieties used for comparison: ‘Royal Gala’ and ‘Ambrosia’
Summary: The internode of the one-year-old shoot of ‘Zonga’ is shorter than that of ‘Royal Gala’. The distal half of the
one-year-old shoot of ‘Zonga’ has medium density pubescence while that of ‘Royal Gala’ has very sparse pubescence. The
leaf of ‘Zonga’ is shorter than the leaf of ‘Royal Gala’. The petiole of ‘Zonga’ is longer than that of ‘Ambrosia’. The
arrangement of the petals of the flower of ‘Zonga’ are overlapping whereas they are non touching for ‘Royal Gala’. The fruit
diameter of ‘Zonga’ is smaller than that of both reference varieties. The eye of the fruit of ‘Zonga’ is large while it is medium
sized for ‘Royal Gala’. The pattern of the overcolour of the fruit of ‘Zonga’ is flushed, striped and mottled while the
overcolour pattern of ‘Royal Gala’ is a weakly defined flush with strongly defined stripes and that of ‘Ambrosia’ is a solid
flush with weakly defined stripes. The fruit skin of ‘Zonga’ has a medium number to many lenticels while that of ‘Ambrosia’
Plant Varieties Journal, April 2016, No. 99
APPLICATIONS UNDER EXAMINATION
APPLE
has few to a medium number of lenticels. The time of flowering begins mid-season for ‘Zonga’ while it begins late in the
season for ‘Royal Gala’.
Description:
TREE: medium vigour, ramified type, spreading growth habit, bearing fruit on long shoots only
ONE-YEAR OLD SHOOT: medium thickness, medium brown on sunny side, medium pubescence, few to medium number
of lenticels
LEAF: outwards attitude, medium length to width ratio, medium to dark green, serrate type one margin, medium pubescence
on lower side
PETIOLE: small amount of anthocyanin colouration extending from base
FLOWER: begins flowering mid-season, dark pink at balloon stage, large diameter when pressed into horizontal position,
petal arrangement overlapping, stigma same level as anthers
FRUIT: small extent of anthocyanin overcolour on young fruit, medium size, medium to large height to diameter ratio, conic
shape, moderate ribbing, moderate crowning at calyx end, large eye, long sepals, absent or small area of russet around stalk,
on cheeks and around eye basin, moderately open aperture of locules
SKIN: absent or weak bloom, moderate greasiness, yellow green ground colour, medium width stripes, small to medium
sized area of light to medium red overcolour distributed in a flushed, striped and mottled pattern
LENTICELS: medium to many, small to medium size
STALK: medium to thick, medium to deep and medium width stalk cavity
EYE BASIN: shallow to medium depth, medium to broad
FLESH: medium firmness, cream colour
QUALITY: early harvesting maturity, early eating maturity
Origin and Breeding: ‘Zonga’ originated from a controlled cross between the variety ‘Alkmene’, as the female parent, and
the variety ‘Delcorf’ (Delbarestival), as the male parent in May 1988 in Rillaar, Belgium. The objective of the breeding
program was to develop a new apple variety which produced fruit with a crisp and juicy pulp, good storage capacity and shelf
life. In 1994, first fruit of this variety was produced and selected for propagation and tested. In the winter of 1994 to 1995,
trees were grafted onto M9 rootstocks. Between 1999 and 2004, additional selection and asexual reproduction occurred.
‘Zonga’ was selected based on its fruit quality, storability and shelf life.
Tests and Trials: The comparative trial of ‘Zonga’ was conducted in 2014 and 2015 in the Summerland Varieties
Corporation test plot, at 4200 Block, Highway 97, in Summerland, British Columbia, Canada. The trial was planted in 2012
and included 8 trees each of the candidate and reference varieties which were grafted onto rootstock variety ‘M9’ using a
super spindle planting scheme. The trees were planted 0.45 metres apart in rows that were spaced 3 metres apart from each
other. Observations and measurements were taken from 8 plants, or 10 parts of plants, of the candidate and reference
varieties.
Comparison table for ‘Zonga’
‘Zonga’
‘Royal Gala’*
‘Ambrosia’*
Internode length of one-year-old shoot (cm)
mean
std. deviation
2.3
0.4
3.1
0.5
2.4
0.4
Leaf blade length (cm)
mean
std. deviation
8.7
1.0
10.4
1.1
8.9
0.8
Petiole length (cm)
mean
std. deviation
3.2
0.5
2.4
0.3
2.7
0.3
Fruit diameter (cm)
mean
std. deviation
7.1
0.3
7.9
0.3
8.1
0.4
Plant Varieties Journal, April 2016, No. 99
APPLICATIONS UNDER EXAMINATION
*reference varieties
Apple: ‘Zonga’ (left) with reference varieties ‘Ambrosia’ (centre) and ‘Royal Gala’ (right)
Plant Varieties Journal, April 2016, No. 99
APPLE