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SuperMac

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Macspur'and 'Spartan'

Summary: 'SuperMac' is a fruiting apple variety which produces fruit both on shoots and spurs, whereas 'Macspur' produces fruit on spurs only. The fruit of 'SuperMac' is globose in shape, while 'Macspur' and 'Spartan' both have flat globose (oblate) fruit. 'Spartan' fruit have more prominent ribbing than 'SuperMac'. The fruit skin of 'SuperMac' is not as waxy as 'Spartan' and the ground colour is green, compared with 'Spartan' which has a green-yellow ground colour. There is significantly less overcolour on 'SuperMac' than either reference variety. Lenticels are prominent to very prominent on the skin of 'SuperMac' fruit, while the lenticels are moderately prominent in 'Macspur' and slightly prominent in 'Spartan'. 'SuperMac' matures earlier than both 'Macspur' and 'Spartan'. The flesh of 'SuperMac' has significantly less tendency to turn brown after being cut than the flesh of 'Macspur' and 'Spartan'.

Description: TREE: high vigour, upright to spreading habit, medium branch frequency, strong branches, bearing branches at 90 degrees or less to trunk, major fruit load on both spurs and shoots

ONE-YEAR OLD SHOOT: dense pubescence on upper half, many to very many lenticels, lenticels large

LATERAL BUD: medium size, pointed to rounded tip, adpressed to axis, small to medium bud support

GROWING TIP: white

SHOOT TIP LEAVES: concave in cross section, sparse pubescence on upper side

LEAVES: medium green, no lobing, medium to large size, oriented upwards, acuminate apex, serrate margin, weak glossiness on upper side, dense pubescence on lower side, weak anthocyanin on veins, no (or very weak) anthocyanin colouration on upper side

STIPULES: medium to large size

FLOWER BUD: white (in full balloon stage) with irregular patterns of reddish purple

FLOWERS: single, green pedicel

PETALS: pinkish purple blush, oblong to slightly rounded, touching to slightly overlapping margins

FRUIT: large, globose shape, asymmetric, weak ribbing, medium crowning at distal end, medium to large eye, eye half to fully open, persistent calyx, short to long sepals, sepals free at base, moderately deep and moderately wide eye basin

FRUIT STALK: thin to medium in thickness, short to medium length, stalk cavity shallow to medium depth and broad in width

FRUIT SURFACE: smooth, moderate bloom, medium waxiness, green ground colour, medium to high amount of pink red to brownish overcolour, overcolour is streaked and solid, very low amount of russet around stalk cavity, lenticels large and very prominent

FRUIT IN CROSS SECTION: white flesh, weak core line, open and closed locules

FRUIT SETTING: persistent, high to very high yield, medium maturity date

FRUIT QUALITY: no cracking of skin in stem cavity, very weak browning of flesh, firm flesh, fine texture, moderate juiciness

SEED: brown at maturity, normal shape

Origin & Breeding History: 'SuperMac' originated from a cross between 'McIntosh' and '9AR5T17' (PRI674) , made in 1971 at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. The selection criteria and evaluation since 1979 for the variety has been on the basis of mildew and scab resistance, large fruit size, fruit uniformity and storage and shelf life.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'SuperMac' were conducted in 2001 at the L'Acadie Research Sub Station of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. The trial included 4 to 7 trees of each variety. The trees were grown on 'Malling 26' single coat rootstock. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements.

Apple: 'SuperMac'

Apple: Reference variety 'Macspur'

Apple: Reference variety 'Spartan'