Apple tree named ‘RENOIRCIV’

A new and distinct Malus domestica Mill. apple tree variety named ‘RENOIRCIV’ particularly characterized by moderately vigorous tree with good habit and good productivity. Resistant to scab. The tree produces well on two-year-old branches, is self-thinning and naturally keeps to one or two apples per cluster. The shape of fruit is conical-obloid, slightly flattened. Yellowish-green ground color with russeting over 50-60% of the surface; fruit growing in direct sunlight may take on a light red hue on the exposed part. The flavor is excellent with a very intense aroma similar to ‘Reinette blanche du Canada’, but sweeter. The fruit is good to eat fresh, even directly after harvest. The flesh is yellow, firm and juicy. May be stored until April.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:Malus domestica Mill.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to European Community Plant Variety Office Application No. 2011/1877, filed Jul. 26, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apple tree, botanically known asMalus domestica Mill.of the Family Rosaceae, and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination ‘RENOIRCIV’.

The newMalusvariety is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors, Michelangelo Leis, Alessio Martinelli, Gianfranco Castagnoli and Francesco Tagliani in S. Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy. The objective of the breeding program was to develop newMalusvarieties with improved production characteristics, high-quality flavour and aroma, and sustainability by increasing the tree's natural resistance. The primary objective of the research programme is to select new apple varieties with natural resistances, in particular to scab.

The newMalusvariety, ‘RENOIRCIV’, originated from a cross made in a planned, controlled breeding program in S. Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy. The female parent is an unpatented proprietary selection denominated ‘FG-88’. The male parent is an unpatented proprietary selection denominated ‘B9-5’. ‘RENOIRCIV’ was discovered and selected in August 2004 by the inventors as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in S. Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy.

Asexual reproduction of the newMalusvariety by budding and grafting was first performed in September 2004 and in the following years in S. Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the newMalusvariety are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new variety reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘RENOIRCIV’ which in combination distinguish this apple tree as a new and distinct variety:1. Yellowish-green colour with russeting over 50-60% of the surface;2. Scab resistance;3. Medium vigor, open habit with short branches;4. Self-thinning and naturally keeps to one or two apples per cluster;5. The fruit is good to eat fresh, even directly after harvest;6. High sugar content and7. Long storage ability.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventors, the most similar in comparison to ‘RENOIRCIV’ is the variety ‘Reinette blanche du Canada’ (unpatented). In comparison to the similar variety ‘Reinette blanche du Canada’, ‘RENOIRCIV’ differs primarily in the traits listed in Table 1:

In comparison to the parent varieties ‘FG-88’ and ‘B9-5’, ‘RENOIRCIV’ differs primarily in the traits listed in Table 2:

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The newMalusvariety ‘RENOIRCIV’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new variety may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the newMalusvariety ‘RENOIRCIV’ as grown in the apple farm in S. Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. The apple farm where ‘RENOIRCIV’ is grown is situated near the Adriatic sea (44°45′ North, 12°11′ East) and is zero (0) meters above sea level. The soil of the apple farm where ‘RENOIRCIV’ is grown is sandy, and the soil is treated with manure every year and irrigated with drip irrigation systems. The climate is temperate continental with high summer temperatures and low winter temperatures.

Unless otherwise stated, the detailed botanical description includes observations, measurements and values based on four (4) year old ‘RENOIRCIV’ trees that were grown in the apple farm in S. Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy, from 2007 to 2010 All trees were of cropping maturity. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from a number of individual trees of ‘RENOIRCIV’. The measurements of any individual tree, or any group of trees, of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), first publication (1966), except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately at 10:00 am in S. Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy.