Ningguan Apples

Ningguan Apples

　　Ningguan apples were hybridized by the Horticulture Research Institute of the Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences and the Lingwu Horticulture Experimental Farm in Ningxia, using Golden Delicious as the female parent and Okusankichi as the male parent. They were certified in 1990. The Ningguan tree is exceptionally vigorous, and begins to bear fruit 4–5 years after planting. Young trees have a fruit-setting rate of 83.3% for flower clusters and 26.7% for individual flowers, making them highly productive. The fruit matures in early October. The apples are medium to large in size, with an average weight of about 180g. The base color is yellow, and some fruits develop a bright red blush on the sun-exposed side, giving them an attractive appearance. The skin is smooth and has a thick layer of wax. The flesh is yellowish-white, firm, fine-textured, crisp, and juicy. The taste is sweet with a slight acidity, indicating superior fruit quality. This variety stores exceptionally well; when kept in a semi-underground simple fruit cellar, it can be stored until May–June of the following year while remaining fresh, making it a late-maturing yellow apple variety with great development potential. Ningqiu Apples Ningqiu apples were hybridized by the Horticulture Research Institute of the Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences and the Lingwu Horticulture Experimental Farm in Ningxia, using Golden Delicious as the female parent and Hongkui as the male parent. They were certified in 1985 and won the Third Prize for Scientific and Technological Achievements from the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in 1986. The Ningqiu tree is vigorously growing. Young trees begin to bear fruit in their fourth year after planting. Flower clusters have a fruit-setting rate of 97.2%, and individual flowers have a setting rate of 79.9%, with each cluster producing 1–5 fruits, indicating very high productivity. The fruit reaches peak maturity in mid-August. The apples are medium to large, with a yellow base color and red flushes or red streaks on the surface. The average single fruit weight is about 170g, with the largest reaching up to 302g. The flesh is fine, firm, and crisp, with a sweet and tangy flavor and abundant juice, making it of excellent quality. It is a highly promising early to mid-season apple variety. (Lingwu)