Summer Red Apple

Summer Red Apple

　　Breed origin: Arkansas Early Red / Alice. Trial name "June Red."

　　Characteristics: An early-maturing variety. Young trees have strong vigor; after fruiting, the tree vigor becomes moderate. The tree has an open posture and a naturally round crown, with relatively soft and open branches. One-year-old branches are light brown, with medium branching ability. The ratio of different types of branches is: long branches 12.1%, medium branches 13.4%, short branches and leafy shoots 74.5%; leaf buds are small, flower buds are medium to large, leaves are long-oval, with compound serrations, relatively thin, yellow-green in color, each inflorescence has 5–6 flowers. Flower buds are deep red from the show-red stage to the early flowering stage. Petals are round and pink. High-grafted trees usually flower and bear fruit in two years; young trees bear fruit in the third year. Early-bearing trees mainly produce axillary flower buds, while mature-bearing trees mainly produce short fruiting branches, with 1–3 fruits per inflorescence. The fruit has medium to low spots, a medium-long pedicel, a moderately deep and rust-free calyx cavity, and a medium suture cavity. The fruit apex is relatively flat. The skin is somewhat thin and bright red in color. The flesh is yellow-white, fine, crisp, and juicy. The flavor is sweet and slightly acidic, with good taste, and the fruit maintains good quality on shelves for 7–10 days.

　　In the Yuncheng and Linfen regions, it ripens in late June, with a fruit development period of about 72–75 days.

　　Quality analysis: In 2012, testing by the Institute of Agricultural Environment and Resources, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences showed: soluble solids 13.26%, total sugar 11.73%, titratable acid 0.33g/100g, protein content 0.69g/100g, Vc content 14.2mg/100g.

　　Trial results: In 2009, Linyi County grafted onto 5-year-old "Mei Ba" apple trees, with a trial area of 3.7 mu. In the third and fourth years after grafting, the average yield per tree was 2.76kg and 14.34kg, respectively, and the average yield per mu was 262.4kg and 1363.1kg, respectively. In 2010, Xixian County grafted onto 8-year-old "Golden Delicious" apple trees, with a trial area of 16.2 mu. In the third and fourth years after grafting, the yield per tree was 3.05kg and 13.5kg, and the yield per mu was 287.2kg and 1271.3kg, respectively. In both areas, the trials resulted in the earliest maturing fruit locally, with over 90% of the fruit surface colored.

　　Cultivation key points: For high-grafting cultivation in standard orchards, a suitable density is 4m × 3m, with 55 trees planted per mu. If using dwarfing rootstocks, a suitable density is 3.5m × 2m, with 95 trees per mu. Adopt a small crown open-center or spaced spindle tree form, and promptly remove large, crowded, or weak interior branches to ensure good ventilation and light penetration. Pay attention to timely fruit harvesting.

　　Suitable region: Suitable for cultivation in southern Shanxi Province.