Apple variety Idared

Idared is an apple variety bred by American breeders in 1935 through the hybridization of two popular varieties (also cultivated in the USA) - Jonathan (Jonathan) and Wagner (Wagner). By the term of fruit ripening, it belongs to winter or late winter varieties. Idared is zoned throughout the southern regions of Russia, as well as in Ukraine. A significant part of the plantings of this apple tree is in our country in the Krasnodar Territory and is intended for commercial production. Since the end of the 60s, these apple trees began to be actively cultivated in Ukraine in private and industrial gardens located in the steppe and forest-steppe zones, and a little later (mid-70s) - in the southern part of Polesie, first on winter-hardy skeletons, then - on the MM-106 rootstock. In Poland, Idared remains the leader among all apple varieties grown mainly for export.

The trees of this apple tree are usually classified as vigorous. Intensive growth is observed in young apple trees. 10-year-old trees reach a height of at least 3.2 meters. The crown is spherical or broadly oval in shape, slightly thickened, so regular pruning is required. In their main part, the branches are directed upward, the angle of departure from the trunk of strong skeletal branches is usually 45 degrees (but can vary from 35 to 80 degrees). The bark has a smooth surface and a gray-brown tint. The kidneys are characterized by average excitability, the shoot-forming ability is also average. Mixed fruiting (ringlets, fruit twigs, annual growths). With the distribution of fruit formations along the entire length of the branches, no exposures are found, the arrangement is always uniform. By the time of removal, from 2 to 3 apples are preserved on the ringlets. In the years of bountiful harvest, small, tightly gathered garlands of fruits are formed on 2 - 3-year-old branches. Such branches give the apple tree a decorative look.

Shoots are grayish-brown in color, slightly elbowed, straight, round in cross-section, have an average thickness, hairiness on them is expressed in a mild form. Lentils are bright, slightly striated, slightly elongated. The leaves have a rich dark green tint, they can be ovoid and elongated in shape, or oval and oblong, strongly fleecy below, medium folded, resembling a narrow scoop, the bases are pointed or rounded, the tips are clearly expressed, along the edges are large-wavy, double-toothed, slight twisting is allowed along clockwise direction. The leaf blade is relatively flat, slightly shiny, forming an almost right angle when leaving the stem. Petioles are thin. Stipules are lanceolate, slightly curved. In annuals growing in the nursery, the stems are light brown, strongly pubescent, with rather large lenticels, the leaves are green, with a bluish or light bluish tint, medium size, strongly folded, the surface of the leaf blade is slightly wrinkled, the stipules are rather large and wide, the petioles are thick or medium.

The flowers are pinkish and saucer-shaped, the pistil column is without pubescence, short, the stigmas of the pistils are located at the same level as the anthers. Flowering is long and occurs early. The intensity of annual flowering is estimated at 3-4 points. The pollen has a high viability (from 42 to 87%). In the process of natural self-pollination, from 1.7 to 2.4% of fruits are set, with artificial pollination - from 2.7 to 7%, from leading pollinators - from 12 to 24%. The best pollinators are the following varieties: parental Wagner, Rubinovye Duki, Red Delicious, Gloucester, Kuban spur, Florina, Rusavka. The Idared variety is prone to self-fertility, so it is better to immediately plant pollinating trees nearby.

The fruits of this apple tree are one-dimensional, rather large, with an average weight of 140 to 190 g (but not less than 100 g), flat-round in shape. The largest fruits are slightly conical in the upper part, with blunt or slightly angular ribs.The peel on apples has a glossy sheen and a smooth surface; it is very thin in thickness, but very elastic and dense, covered with a light waxy coating. The subcutaneous dots are rather large, few in number and give the apple color a marbled effect due to the characteristic merging stripes of a whitish hue. The main color of apples is light green, on top of it, a rich dark carmine or raspberry blush with thick stripes and strokes is superimposed on almost the entire surface of the fruit. The saucer is deep enough, but not wide. The calyx is small, closed. The sub-cup tube is rather large and has a cylindrical shape. The funnel is deep and very narrow, the skin on it is rusty. The peduncle is of medium size. The heart is onion-shaped, rather small. The narrow axial cavity is connected through a narrow gap with the seminal chambers in the shape of a triangle; but they can also be separated.

Idared apples are characterized by good to medium taste. The juicy flesh has a creamy or light creamy color and a sour-sweet taste. Apples are moderately fragrant. The taste score is 4 - 4.2 points. By the time of consumer maturity, the pulp has a rather dense structure, but after a short storage it becomes fine-grained, and by the end of the shelf life - loose. In terms of chemical composition, Idared apples contain: 13.5% solids, 0.6% titratable acids, 10.5% sugars, 11.5 mg / 100 g of ascorbic acid, 120 mg / 100 g of P-active substances.

The time for the removable ripeness of apples is most often at the end of September, in rare cases - at the beginning of October. The consumer period starts from February. In a storage / cellar, the fruits are kept in perfect condition for 5-6 months (until the end of March), when stored in a refrigerator - until the summer period. In rare cases, during the storage of apples, their defeat by subcutaneous spotting is allowed.

Ripe apples are able to stay on trees for a long time and have a high level of transportability, which is very attractive for commercial cultivation. The level of marketability of fruits is 88 - 92% (including for the premium grade 10 - 15%, for the first - 40 - 50%).

On a medium-sized rootstock, the first fruiting usually occurs in the fifth year after planting. Apple trees of the Idared variety bear fruit regularly and have a high productivity. In the Kuban (in its central part), long-term yield indicators are equal to 300 - 400 c / ha, in years of abundant harvest - 500 c / ha. Young trees (6 - 7 years old) yield up to 30 kg of apples, adult apple trees (10 - 13 years old) - up to 90 kg of fruits each.

The apple tree has sufficient resistance to brown spot and moderately resistant to powdery mildew and scab. In warm regions, the level of winter hardiness is average, the level of drought resistance is good. Regions with cold winters are absolutely unsuitable for this variety, the level of sensitivity to frost in trees remains high, even with additional wrapping of the trunk.

Apples are suitable not only for fresh consumption, but also for processing into dried fruits, juices and compotes.

The main advantages of the Idared apple are high yields and marketability, a high level of ecological adaptability, and the suitability of apples for fresh consumption and processing.

The main disadvantage is a fairly strong susceptibility to damage by scab and powdery mildew (especially in the rainy season).

In breeding work, the Idared variety has value due to its high yield and high marketability of apples, often acting as a donor when creating new varieties. With his participation, such winter varieties as Tantsivnitsya and Vertikal were bred in Ukraine, in the North Caucasus - Kazachka Kubanskaya and others.