Apple variety Solnyshko

Solnyshko is a new late autumn apple variety with immunity to scab (Vf gene), bred at the All-Russian Research Institute for Breeding of Fruit Crops at the end of the 20th century (814 - free pollination). The seeds were selected from fruits grown in 1981 in a collection garden. In 1990, the seedling first began to bear fruit. Already in 1993, the variety was singled out to the elite for the excellent consumer and commercial characteristics of apples. A group of breeders worked on the creation of this apple tree: E.N. Sedov, V.V. Zhdanov, Z.M. Serova, E.A. Dolmatov.

In 1998, the variety entered the State test in the Russian regions - Central, Central Black Earth and Nizhnevolzhsky. In 2001, the Solnyshko variety was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements Permitted for Use (zoned).

Apple trees are below average, the crown is not very thickened, round in shape. To the touch, the bark on the main branches and trunk is smooth, without roughness, with a slight sheen, brown or brown in color. Mainly simple and complex ringlets bear fruit.

In comparison with other varieties, the shoots are rather thick, with an arcuate bend, geniculate, faceted in cross section, brown in color, with pubescence and fairly short internodes. A small amount of lentils. The buds are large, appressed, conical in shape, with pubescence. The leaves are medium in size, green or light green in color, ovoid, with a short-pointed, helical twisted top, serrated edges. The leaf blades are glossy, with coarse venation. The petioles are short, rather thick, with strong pubescence.

The flowers are light pink in color, medium in size, saucer-shaped in shape, weakly closed petals, rounded in shape. The inflorescences are umbellate and include 4 to 6 flowers. The buds are white and pink. Pedicels are of medium length. The stigma of the pistils is at the same level as the anthers. Column of pistils accrete, with pubescence on the columns.

The fruits of the Solnyshko apple tree usually grow to a medium size (one apple weighs about 140 grams), but they can grow even larger (from 160 to 200 grams). Apples are oblong-beveled, wide-ribbed, with smooth oily skin. During the period of removable maturity, the main color of the fruit is greenish-yellow; by the time of consumer maturity, the apple acquires a light yellow color. The cover color is expressed on the entire surface of the fruit or on a significant part of it in the form of a bright crimson blush. Large subcutaneous dots, clearly visible, are present on the apple skin in large numbers. Peduncles are short, straight and set at an angle. The funnel is rather narrow, conical in shape. The saucer is medium in width and depth, grooved. The cup is closed. The heart is medium in size and bulbous. The seeds are light brown, ovoid, the seed chambers are closed. The sub-cup tube is medium in width and depth, wedge-shaped in shape.

The flesh of the fruit is usually white in color, but it can be creamy, very juicy, but not friable, dense in structure, fine-grained. Apples have a rich sweet and sour taste and leave a pleasant fresh aftertaste after eating for a while. On a 5-point tasting scale, the assessment of the appearance of the fruit is 4.4 points, and the assessment of taste is 4.3 points. In terms of chemical composition, apples of the Solnyshko variety contain: sugar (7.9%), ascorbic acid (7.2 mg / 100 g), titratable acid (0.86%). The fruits are suitable for conservation and processing (jams, juices, cider, jam).

The period of removable maturity depends on the region of growth, but on average falls in the second half of September (usually from the 15th to the 20th).The consumption period starts from October 10th and lasts until the end of December - mid-January.

The yield of the variety is quite high (up to 127 kg / ha). In the period from 1994 to 1997, young over-grafted apple trees at the age of 7-10 years gave an average yield of 107 kg / ha. For comparison: the average yield of the control varieties Antonovka ordinary was only 67 c / ha.

The apple tree has high winter hardiness. Under conditions of artificial freezing of branches in January at minus 40 ° C, freezing of the buds was assessed at 1.6 points, bark - by 1.0 point, wood - by 1.4 points. At the same time, the cambium had no visible signs of damage.

The main advantages of the Sun apple tree are its strong immunity to scab, low tree size, good productivity and, of course, attractive late autumn fruits.

When using dwarf rootstocks (134 and 3-17-38), this variety is suitable for setting up intensive gardens.