A new variety of apple tree of unknown parentage, bearing apples of exceptional shelf life and keeping quality, exhibiting distinctive fruit coloration and shape, a long stem, large leaves, and unused bore shoot and bud extension.

BACKGROUND AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE TREE 
The subject plant is a new and distinct variety of apple tree that was 
discovered as a chance seedling of unknown parentage in the orchard of 
Darrel and Marilynn Caudle in Dryden, Wash. The original tree was found in 
a block of Red Delicious apple trees with Golden Delicious pollenizers in 
the same orchard. This new variety has been asexually reproduced, by bark 
graft and budding, and fruited through three successive generations in the 
discoverers' orchard. The characteristics of this variety have remained 
the same through three generations. The varietal name "Caudle Cultivar" is 
proposed for the subject apple tree. 
SUMMARY OF THE TREE 
This new variety of apple tree is distinguished from other known varieties 
by its fruit, which has a color pattern of red striping over a 
greenish-yellow background. The green-yellow ground color is identified, 
using Ridgeway's Color Standards and Nomenclature, as Plate V, color 
number 27 GY, Tone F Pale Green Yellow. The stripe color pattern varies 
between Nopal Red (Plate 1, color number 3 O-R, Tone I) to Ox Blood Red 
(Plate 1, color number 1 Red, Tone K). The lenticels on the apple are 
numerous, of medium size, the characteristically colored Sea Foam Yellow 
(Plate XXXI, color number 25 YGY, Tone F). The fruit generally resembles a 
Red Delicious apple in shape but is more roundish to conical; in addition, 
the five points, or lobes, are not as prominent as those of a Red 
Delicious Apple. The fruit stem of the new variety is slender and 
unusually long, typically one and one-half to one and three-quarters 
inches in length. These distinctive characteristics are all shown in FIG. 
1. 
This new variety is further distinguishable by its large leaves. As shown 
in FIG. 2, the leaf is larger than those of Red Delicious and Golden 
Delicious leaves. 
This new variety of apple tree also exhibits an unusual growth of the bore 
shoot of leaves from the central column or pirostele that supports the 
flowers (and later the fruit). The bore shoot (shown at the arrow in FIG. 
3) undergoes a distinctive extension in length during the blooming season. 
Bore shoots of this new variety at full bloom average two and one-half 
inches in length; while Red Delicious and golden Delicious bore shoots 
average two inches in length and one and one-quarter inches in length, 
respectively. FIG. 4 shows the bore shoot of this new variety as the apple 
matures. 
This new variety of apple tree also exhibits an unusual bud extension. The 
bud extension, that is, the seasonal growth from the previous year's fruit 
bud to the principal flower stem, is elongated at full bloom in the 
subject tree (three-quarters to one inch) as compared to Red Delicious 
(one-quarter inch) and Golden Delicious (one-quarter to one-half inch) 
trees. Representative photographs of the bud extensions (taken 
approximately 80 days after full bloom) are shown in FIGS. 5A (the new 
variety), 5B (Red Delicious), and 5C (Golden Delicious). 
Additional features of the subject apple trees are described in detail 
below.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE "CAUDLE" TREE 
Tree 
Growth form: This new variety of apple tree has been observed growing on 
the following root stocks: seedling root stock, EMLA 111, and Malling 9 
(NAKB 337). The subject trees are vigorous and tall, with a spreading, 
open growth form. Tree size of the original specimen at age 10 years is 
about 11 feet wide and 14 feet tall. Average terminal growth each year is 
approximately 14 to 20 inches. The trunk is medium (neither stocky nor 
slender), with smooth bark. The branches are medium (as opposed to slender 
or thick) and generally straight. The subject tree does not exhibit a 
propensity to form spurs; the spur branching characteristics are similar 
to a standard Golden Delicious tree. The bark of young trees is not a dark 
as that of Red Delicious trees but darker than the bark of Golden 
Delicious trees of comparable age. The color of one-year dormant wood is 
Dark Corinthian Purple (Plate XXXVIII-m). The mature bark is 
characteristically dull. Tree lenticels are numerous and of medium size. 
Lenticels on three-year-old wood are more horizontal than those on a 
standard Golden Delicious tree, which has lenticels that are more round in 
shape. The straight branchles tend to be medium-jointed with some 
zigzagging tendency observed. The epidermis is smooth and dull. Internodes 
are of medium length, about one to one and one-half inches, similar to 
standard Golden Delicious trees. Crotch angles are from about 30 to about 
45 degrees from vertical. 
Leaves: Buds are medium in size and length, and pointed (similar to Golden 
Delicious). Leaf scars are prominent, similar to Bisbee Red Delicious 
trees. The ovate leaves are distictively large: approximagely five and 
one-half inches in length and two and three-quarters inch wide. The leaves 
are thick, medium green in color (Ackermann's Green, Plate XVIII-k), and 
smooth. The color of the primary vein on the front side of the leaf is 
Light Grape (Plate XLI-b). The leaf margin is coarsely serrated. The 
petiole is of medium length (about one and one-half to about one and 
three-quarters inches) and thickness. The tomentum of the leaf blades are 
less pubescent than standard Golden Delicious leaves, and extremely less 
pubescent than Bisbee Red Delicious leaves. 
Flowers: The subject tree is characterized by large, showy flowers (FIG. 
3). The closed flower is pink on the outside of the petals but opens to a 
mostly white flower. The flowers are fertile (i.e., self-fertile and will 
cross pollinate) and are generally distributed uniformly on the tree. If 
seed number is reduced without pollination, correspondingly size, 
type-length diameter ratio is affected, resulting in rounder fruit. The 
flower clusters are loosely arranged. The date of bloom is typically the 
same as adjacent Golden Delicious trees and follows that of adjacent Red 
Delicious trees by one day or so. 
This new variety is a hardy, productive, and regular bearer. The new 
variety is more productive than Bisbee Red Delicious, and equal to 
standard Golden Delicious trees. Its susceptibilities to insects and 
diseases are similar to Red and Golden Delicious apple trees. The tree is 
not mildew resistant. 
Fruit 
The apples hang very well on the tree and typically ripen 155 to 165 days 
after full bloom. Thinning is required during heavy bloom years to produce 
premium-sized fruit. Thinning is required to produce uniform color and 
appearance. The apple of this new variety has less acid than standard 
Golden Delicious apples, and more acid than Bisbee Red Delicious apples, 
at optimum long-term controlled atmosphere harvest levels: 
______________________________________ 
Pressure Soluble Solids 
Acid 
______________________________________ 
Caudle 16# 12 .400 
Golden Del. 
16# 11 .500 
Bisbee Del. 
17# 10.3 .270 
______________________________________ 
Average fruit size at harvest with adequate thinning is 3.23 inches in 
diamter and 3.75 inches in length. The calyx basin averages 1/2 inch in 
depth and 3/4 inch in width. The fruit has a closed calyx, and the calyx 
tube is small and long. The cavity at the stem end is approximately one 
inch deep and 3/4 inch wide and is symmetrical. The stem length averages 
1.45 inches. The cone area is medium in size and the halves are equal. 
The apples are of best quality. The apples begin to take on stripes in 
mid-September and these improve until mid-October harvest. Comparable 
harvest dates are: Standard Golden Delicious harvest, September 10-20; Red 
Delicious harvest, Sep. 24-October 4; and Caudle Cultivar harvest, October 
7-25. No. water core has been observed. Normal fruit size will average 
size 80-88, using USDA fruit grades. The apple skin is smooth, dull and of 
medium thickness and toughness. The apple bloom is very light. Skin is 
tougher than standard Golden Delicious, but not as tough as Bisbee Red 
Delicious. The basin of the fruit is more pointed than standard Golden 
Delicious, but not as Bisbee Red Delicious. The cavity is deeper and 
narower than standard Golden Delicious and Bisbee Red Delicious. The flesh 
is white, firm, crisp, and juicy, with a characteristic subacid, aromatic 
flavor. The fruit is less susceptible to russet than standard Golden 
Delicious. The shelf life and keeping quality of the apple are exceptional 
and greatly exceed those of both Red Delicious and Golden Delicious 
apples. The apple is dessert quality, comparable with Red Delicious and 
Golden Delicious, and has a longer storage capability.