Minneiska

Apple

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Honeycrisp' and 'Minnewashta'

Summary: The leaf blade margins of 'Minneiska' are crenate whereas they are bicrenate on 'Honeycrisp'. When pressed into a horizontal position, the diameter of the petals of 'Minneiska' is medium sized whereas it is large in 'Minnewashta'. The general shape of the fruit of 'Minneiska' is conic whereas it is globose for 'Honeycrisp' and 'Minnewashta'. The pattern of the overcolour of the fruit skin of 'Minneiska' is flushed, striped and mottled whereas the pattern is weakly defined flush with strongly defined stripes on both reference varieties. The area of russet around the stalk attachment and around the eye basin of 'Minneiska' is medium sized whereas it is absent or small on both reference varieties. 'Minneiska' has a longer fruit stalk than 'Minnewashta'.

Description:

TREE: medium to strong vigour, ramified, spreading growth habit, fruit bearing on spurs and long shoots, begins flowering mid-season, early to mid-season harvest maturity, early to mid-season time of eating maturity
ONE-YEAR OLD SHOOT: thin, reddish brown on sunny side, medium density of pubescence on distal half, few to medium number of lenticels

LEAF: outwards attitude in relation to shoot, medium to large length to width ratio, medium green, crenate margin, dense pubescence on lower side

FLOWER: light pink in balloon stage, medium diameter when petals are pressed into horizontal position, overlapping arrangement of petals, stigma positioned at the same level as the anthers

FRUIT: medium to large, small to medium height to diameter ratio, conic shape, absent or weak ribbing, absent or weak crowning at calyx end, medium size eye, medium length sepal
FRUIT SKIN: very weak bloom, absent or weak greasiness, yellow green ground colour, medium area of russet around stalk attachment and eye basin, absent or small area of russet cheeks, medium number of medium to large lenticels
OVERCOLOUR OF SKIN: large area, medium to dark red, flushed, striped and mottled pattern with medium width of stripes
STALK: medium thickness
STALK CAVITY: medium depth and width
EYE BASIN: medium depth and width
FRUIT FLESH: firm, cream, closed or slightly open aperture of locules

Origin & Breeding History: 'Minneiska' was derived from the cross between the female parent 'Honeycrisp' and the male parent 'Minnewashta' made in 1988 at the University of Minnesota Horticultural Research Centre near Excelsior, Minnesota. The variety was selected as a seedling tree in 1999 and given the experimental designation AE8808. It was selected for its early ripening season, crisp juicy texture and lengthy storage life.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials were conducted at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, B.C. from 2010 to 2013. The trials consisted of 7 trees of the candidate variety (grafted on EMLA26 rootstock), 10 trees of 'Honeycrisp' (grafted on M9 rootstock) and 5 trees of 'Minnewashta' (grafted on MM111 rootstock). Trees of 'Minneiska' were planted in 2008. All trees were planted 0.9 metres apart within rows. The rows were spaced 3 metres apart. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 10 measurements.

Comparison table for 'Minneiska' with reference varieties 'Honeycrisp' and 'Minnewashta'

Length of fruit stalk (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Apple: 'Minneiska' (left) with reference varieties 'Honeycrisp' (center) and 'Minnewashta' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Apple: 'Minneiska' (left) with reference variety 'Honeycrisp' (right)