Patent Publication Number: US-PP32159-P3

Title: Apple tree named ‘TAKANO 7GO’

Description:
The botanical name of the novel apple tree variety is  Malus  Mill. 
     The novel variety of the  Malus  Mill is hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination: ‘TAKANO 7GO’. 
     CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Variety Registration Application No. 32562 filed Nov. 1, 2017, which is incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apple tree botanically classified as  Malus  Mill. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘TAKANO 7GO’. 
     The new variety is a product of a planned breeding program conducted during a period from May 2006 to September 2017 by the inventor, Oshu-shi, Iwate, Japan, in which the  Malus  Mill. variety ‘Shinano Gold’ (female parent; Japanese Variety Registration No. 7328, registered Aug. 11, 1999) was crossed with the  Malus  Mill. variety ‘TAKANO 1GO’ (male parent) which is also known as the name ‘Beni Roman’ (Japanese Registered Trademark No. 5128504, registered Apr. 11, 2008) in Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to create new apple trees that produce fruits having long common storage duration and firm flesh, different from those of the parents and known similar varieties. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The new and distinct variety ‘TAKANO 7GO’ has a longer common storage duration of about one month even at an average temperature of about 20-25° C., balanced sweetness (about 14.5-15 (Brix %)) and acidity (about 0.33 g/100 ml) of the fruit, higher firmness of the flesh (about 15.3 lbs.), and earlier harvest time (for example, late August to early September in Japan), and, as described below, is distinct from: the known variety ‘Shinano Gold’ (female parent) that was produced by crossing the  Malus  Mill variety ‘Golden Delicious’ which is a classic American apple variety and is also well known in Japan with the known variety ‘Senshu’ (Japanese Variety Registration No. 42, registered Mar. 31, 1980), the known  Malus  Mill. variety ‘TAKANO 1GO’ (male parent, Japanese Variety Registration No. 20599, registered Mar. 15, 2011) that was produced by crossing the known  Malus  Mill variety ‘Shinano Red’ (Japanese Variety Registration No. 5867, registered Dec. 5, 1997) with the known  Malus  Mill. variety ‘Sansa’ (Japanese Variety Registration No. 1565, registered Mar. 5, 1988); and the  Malus  Mill. variety ‘Tsugaru’ well known in Japan. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying colored photographs ( FIGS. 1-6 ) show typical flower, fruit, and leaf characteristics for the new  Malus  Mill. apple tree variety, ‘TAKANO 7GO’. Colors shown are as accurate as can be reasonably reproduced by photographic means. In some cases, the color might differ slightly from the colors of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ described herein. 
         FIG. 1  shows a tree (about 9 years old) of ‘TAKANO 7GO’ in bloom. 
         FIG. 2  shows a close-up view of the flowers of ‘TAKANO 7GO’. 
         FIG. 3  shows petals, pistil, stamens and sepal of the flower of ‘TAKANO 7GO’. 
         FIG. 4  shows a tree, fruits, and leaves of ‘TAKANO 7GO’. 
         FIG. 5  shows the shape and diameter of the whole fruit of ‘TAKANO 7GO’. 
         FIG. 6  shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the fruit of ‘TAKANO 7GO’. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The new variety ‘TAKANO 7GO’ has characteristics as described below, compared with the parent varieties and similar varieties. (see TABLEs 1, 2 and 3). 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Partial characteristics of ‘TAKANO 7GO’ 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Characteristic 
                 State 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Tree: type 
                 ramified 
               
               
                   
                 Tree: habit 
                 spreading 
               
               
                   
                 Fruit: height 
                 medium, about 8 
               
               
                   
                   
                 cm on average 
               
               
                   
                 Fruit: general shape 
                 ovoid 
               
               
                   
                 Fruit: relative area of overcolor 
                 very large 
               
               
                   
                 Fruit: hue of overcolor, with bloom 
                 orange red (RHS, 
               
               
                   
                 removed 
                 approximately 
               
               
                   
                   
                 N34A) 
               
               
                   
                 Fruit: intensity of stripes of overcolor 
                 weak 
               
               
                   
                 Fruit: color of flesh 
                 yellow white (RHS, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 approximately 
               
               
                   
                   
                 158D) 
               
               
                   
                 Time of beginning of flowering 
                 medium 
               
               
                   
                 Time of harvest 
                 early 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The variety ‘Shinano Gold’, a female parent, has the characteristics of that the skin color is yellow (RHS Yellow Group approximately 6C) when harvested, the sweetness of flesh is high (about 15.3 (Brix %)), the acidity of flesh is medium (about 0.45.g/100 ml), the firmness or food texture (i.e., mouthfeel) of flesh is firm (about 15.5 lbs.), and the time of harvest is late, specifically late October in Iwate, Japan. 
     The variety ‘TAKANO 1GO’, a male parent, has the characteristics that the skin color is red (RHS Red Group approximately 46B) when harvested, the color of flesh is yellow white (RHS Yellow-White Group approximately 158D), the acidity of flesh is about 0.50 g/100 ml, the firmness of flesh is about 16.0 lbs., the time of harvest is very early, specifically mid of August at Iwate, Japan, and the common storage duration is short (about 4-10 days in August at Iwate, Japan). 
     On the other hand, the new and distinct variety ‘TAKANO 7GO’ has the characteristics described in TABLE 1 above and TABLEs 2 and 3 below, especially that the time of harvest is from late August to early September at Iwate, Japan and the common storage duration is long (about one month even in the period late August to early September at Iwate, Japan (average temperature about 20-25° C.)) substantially without making the flesh soft and thus very superior to any known variety produced in Japan (normally up to about 10 days), that the skin color of the fruit is orange red (RHS Orange-Red Group approximately N34A) when harvested, and the color of the flesh is yellow white (RHS Yellow-White Group approximately 158D) and the firmness of the flesh is firm (about 15.3 lbs.), and that the sweetness of the fruit is about 14.5-15 (Brix %) and is higher than the sweetness of known fruits like ‘Beni Roman’ (i.e. the variety ‘TAKANO 1GO’) (about 13 (Brix %) and ‘Sansa’ (about 13-14 (Brix %)), and the acidity of the flesh is medium (about 0.33 g/100 ml), while having balanced sweetness and acidity and higher firmness of the flesh. Furthermore, in the new and distinct variety ‘TAKANO 7GO’, the leaves are arranged alternatively on the stem with one leaf per node in a straight line. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Comparison of characteristics between the new variety 
               
               
                 and similar varieties 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Varieties 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 Sansa (not 
                 Tsugaru (not 
               
               
                 Characteristic 
                 TAKANO 7GO 
                 patented)* 1   
                 patented)* 1)   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Stripes of overcolor 
                 weak 
                 absent 
                 — 
               
               
                 Duration of common 
                 long, 
                 slightly short, 
                 slightly short, 
               
               
                 storage 
                 about 1 month 
                 10 days or less 
                 10 days or 
               
               
                 (at about 20-25° C.) 
                   
                   
                 less 
               
               
                 Fruit firmness of 
                 firm, 
                 slightly firm, 
                 soft, 
               
               
                 flesh 
                 about 15.3-16.0 
                 about 13.8 lbs 
                 about 13.0 lbs 
               
               
                   
                 lbs. 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 * 1) ‘Sansa’ and ‘Tsugaru’ are similar to ‘TAKANO 7GO’ in their harvest time. 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The following detailed botanical description of ‘TAKANO 7GO’ apple tree is based an survey (or observations) made during the period between August 2013 and September 2017 at Oshu-shi, Iwate, Japan. All colors are described according to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. It should be understood that the characteristics described will vary somewhat depending upon cultural practices and climate conditions and will also vary depending upon location and season. Quantified measurements are generally expressed as an average of measurements taken from individual trees of ‘TAKANO 7GO’ unless otherwise noted; however, the measurements of any individual plant or any group of plants of ‘TAKANO 7GO’ may vary from the stated average.
     Classification:
             Botanical.—Malus  Mill.       
       Parentage:
             Female parent.—Malus  Mill. variety ‘Shinano Gold’ (Japanese Variety Registration No. 7328, registered Aug. 11, 1999).     Male parent.—Malus  Mill. variety ‘TAKANO 1GO’ (male parent; Japanese Variety Registration No. 20599, registered Mar. 15, 2011).       
       Propagation: Typically by grafting on JM1 (Japanese Variety Registration No. 7443, registered Sep. 21, 1999) rootstock; and the good time of grafting is a period of mid to late March at Iwate, Japan.   Flowering-beginning time: Typically early May at Iwate, Japan.   Harvest time: Typically a period between late August and early September at Iwate, Japan.   Plant description: See TABLE 3 below indicating characteristics of ‘TAKANO 7GO’ compared with the similar variety ‘Sansa’ (Japanese Variety Registration No. 1565, registered Mar. 5, 1988).   

     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Characteristics of ‘TAKANO 7GO’ compared with ‘Sansa’ 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 ‘TAKANO 
                   
               
               
                 Characteristic 
                 7GO’ 
                 ‘Sansa’ 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Tree: vigor 
                 medium 
                 medium 
               
               
                 Tree: type 
                 ramified 
                 ramified 
               
               
                 Only varieties with 
                 spreading 
                 spreading 
               
               
                 ramified tree type: Tree: 
                   
                   
               
               
                 habit 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Tree: type of bearing 
                 on spurs and long 
                 on spurs and long 
               
               
                 One-year-old shoot: 
                 medium, about 4.5 mm 
                 medium, about 4.5 
               
               
                 thickness 
                   
                 mm 
               
               
                 One-year-old shoot: 
                 short, about 2.7 cm 
                 medium, about 3.3  
               
               
                 length of internode 
                   
                 cm 
               
               
                 One-year-old shoot: 
                 moderate brown (RHS 
                 light brown (RHS 
               
               
                 color on sunny side 
                 Brown Group 200C) 
                 Grey-Brown Group 
               
               
                   
                   
                 N199C) 
               
               
                 One-year-old shoot: 
                 densely pubescent 
                 medium 
               
               
                 pubescence (on distal 
                   
                   
               
               
                 half of shoot) 
                   
                   
               
               
                 One-year-old shoot: 
                 many 
                 medium 
               
               
                 number of lenticels 
                 (the number of lenticels, 
                   
               
               
                   
                 not determined.) 
                   
               
               
                 Leaf blade: attitude in 
                 upwards 
                 upwards 
               
               
                 relation to shoot 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Leaf blade: length 
                 medium, about 9.5 cm 
                 medium, about  
               
               
                   
                   
                 9.8 cm 
               
               
                 Leaf blade: width 
                 narrow, about 5.8 cm 
                 narrow, about 5.9 cm 
               
               
                 Leaf blade: ratio 
                 large, about 1.63 
                 large, about 1.66 
               
               
                 length/width 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Leaf blade: intensity of 
                 medium 
                 medium 
               
               
                 green color 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Leaf blade: incisions of 
                 serrate type 1 
                 bicrenate 
               
               
                 margin (upper half) 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Leaf blade: pubescence 
                 densely pubescent 
                 medium 
               
               
                 on lower side 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Leaf blade: pubescence 
                 absent 
                 — 
               
               
                 on upper side 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Petiole: length 
                 medium, about 2.8 cm 
                 long, &gt;2.8 cm 
               
               
                 Petiole: color 
                 RHS Yellow-Green 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 Group146C 
                   
               
               
                 Petiole: diameter 
                 about 2 mm on average 
                 — 
               
               
                 Petiole: extent of 
                 medium 
                 medium 
               
               
                 anthocyanin coloration 
                   
                   
               
               
                 from base 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Flower: predominant 
                 strong pink (RHS Red 
                 light pink (RHS Red 
               
               
                 color at balloon stage 
                 Group 50C) 
                 Group 50D) 
               
               
                 Flower: diameter with 
                 medium, about 5.5 cm 
                 medium, about 5.8  
               
               
                 petals pressed into 
                 on average 
                 cm on average 
               
               
                 horizontal position 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Flower: arrangement of 
                 moderately  
                 moderately  
               
               
                 petals 
                 overlapping 
                 overlapping 
               
               
                 Flower: petal length 
                 about 2.5-3.0 cm on 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 average 
                   
               
               
                 Flower: petal width 
                 about 1.7-2.1 cm on 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 average 
                   
               
               
                 Flower: petal color on 
                 predominantly White 
                 — 
               
               
                 the upper side 
                 Group RHS N155B to 
                   
               
               
                   
                 N155D and partly Red- 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Purple Group RHS 65B 
                   
               
               
                   
                 to 65C 
                   
               
               
                 Flower: petal color on 
                 predominantly RHS 
                 — 
               
               
                 the lower side 
                 White Group N155B to 
                   
               
               
                   
                 N155D and partly Red- 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Purple Group RHS 
                   
               
               
                   
                 N74B to N74C 
                   
               
               
                 Flower: shape of petal 
                 rounded 
                 — 
               
               
                 apex 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Flower: shape of petal 
                 rounded 
                 — 
               
               
                 base 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Flower: petal texture 
                 soft and fragile 
                 — 
               
               
                 Flower: the average 
                 5 
                 5 
               
               
                 number of petals 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Flower: length of flower 
                 about 1.5 cm on average 
                 — 
               
               
                 buds 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Flower: diameter of 
                 about 1.3 cm on average 
                 — 
               
               
                 flower buds 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Flower: color of flower 
                 RHS Red-Purple Group 
                 — 
               
               
                 buds 
                 63A to 63B 
                   
               
               
                 Flower: position of 
                 same level 
                 same level 
               
               
                 stigmas relative to 
                   
                   
               
               
                 anthers 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Flower: fertility 
                 cross-pollination 
                 cross-pollination 
               
               
                 Anthers: color 
                 RHS Yellow Group 10A 
                 — 
               
               
                 Filaments: length 
                 about 8-12 mm 
                 — 
               
               
                 Filaments: color 
                 Blue-Green RHS 115A  
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 to 115B 
                   
               
               
                 Pistil: number 
                 one (1) 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 (the number of stigmas, 
                   
               
               
                   
                 5) 
                   
               
               
                 Pistil: length 
                 about 1.3 cm on average 
                 — 
               
               
                 Pistil: color 
                 Yellow Green Group 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 RHS 152C 
                   
               
               
                 Young fruit: extent of 
                 medium 
                 medium 
               
               
                 anthocyanin overcolor 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: size 
                 medium 
                 medium 
               
               
                 Fruit: height 
                 medium, about 8.0 cm 
                 medium, about  
               
               
                   
                   
                 8.0 cm 
               
               
                 Fruit: diameter 
                 medium, about 8.0 cm 
                 medium, about 7.8  
               
               
                   
                   
                 cm 
               
               
                 Fruit: ratio 
                 very small, 1.0 
                 small, 1.03 
               
               
                 height/diameter 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: general shape 
                 ovoid 
                 conic 
               
               
                 Fruit: ribbing 
                 absent or weak 
                 absent or weak 
               
               
                 Fruit: crowning at calyx 
                 absent or weak 
                 absent or weak 
               
               
                 end 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: size of eye 
                 small 
                 small 
               
               
                   
                 (actual size, not 
                   
               
               
                   
                 determined.) 
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: length of sepal 
                 medium 
                 medium 
               
               
                 Fruit: bloom of skin 
                 absent or weak 
                 absent or weak 
               
               
                 Fruit: greasiness of skin 
                 absent or weak 
                 absent or weak 
               
               
                 Fuit: surface texture of 
                 smooth 
                 medium 
               
               
                 skin 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: ground color 
                 whitish green 
                 whitish green 
               
               
                 Fruit: relative area of 
                 very large 
                 medium 
               
               
                 overcolor 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: hue of 
                 RHS Orange Red 
                 RHS Red Group 
               
               
                 overcolor-with bloom 
                 approximately N34A 
                 approximately 46B 
               
               
                 removed 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: intensity of 
                 medium 
                 medium 
               
               
                 overcolor 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: pattern of 
                 solid flush with weakly 
                 only solid flush 
               
               
                 overcolor 
                 defined stripes 
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: width of stripes 
                 medium (about 1.5-2.0 
                 narrow (or absent) 
               
               
                   
                 mm on average) 
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: intensity of 
                 weak 
                 absent 
               
               
                 overcolor 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: area of russet 
                 absent or small 
                 medium 
               
               
                 around stalk attachment 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: area of russet on 
                 absent or small 
                 medium 
               
               
                 cheeks 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: area of russet 
                 absent or small 
                 large 
               
               
                 around eye basin 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: number of 
                 many (about 5 per 1 cm 2   
                 medium 
               
               
                 lenticels 
                 of equatorial portion) 
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: size of lenticels 
                 large (about 0.3 mm on 
                 medium 
               
               
                   
                 average) 
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: scarfskin 
                 absent 
                 absent 
               
               
                 Fruit: length of stalk 
                 short, about 1.8 cm 
                 short, about 1.9 cm 
               
               
                 Fruit: thickness of stalk 
                 medium, about 2.5 mm 
                 medium, about 2.4 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mm 
               
               
                 Fruit: depth of stalk 
                 medium, about 1.3 cm 
                 medium, about  
               
               
                 cavity 
                   
                 1.3 cm 
               
               
                 Fruit: width of stalk 
                 medium,about 3.7 cm 
                 medium, about 
               
               
                 cavity 
                   
                 3.8 cm 
               
               
                 Fruit: depth of eye basin 
                 medium, about 1.0 cm 
                 medium, about  
               
               
                   
                   
                 1.0 cm 
               
               
                 Fruit: width of eye basin 
                 medium, about 3.6 cm 
                 medium, about  
               
               
                   
                   
                 3.6 cm 
               
               
                 Fruit: firmness of flesh 
                 firm, about 15.3 lbs. 
                 medium, about 
               
               
                   
                   
                 13.8 lbs. 
               
               
                 Fruit: color of flesh 
                 RHS Yellow-White 
                 RHS White Group 
               
               
                   
                 Group approximately 
                 approximately 155D 
               
               
                   
                 158D 
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: sweetness of flesh 
                 medium, about 14.6 
                 medium, about  
               
               
                   
                 (Brix %) 
                 13-14 (Brix %) 
               
               
                 Fruit: acidity of flesh 
                 medium, about 0.33 
                 medium, about 0.41 
               
               
                   
                 (g/100 ml) 
                 (g/100 ml) 
               
               
                 Fruit: water-core of flesh 
                 absent to very slight 
                 absent to very slight 
               
               
                 Fruit: shape of core 
                 flat round, 2.4 × 2.4 (cm) 
                 flat round, 2.6 × 
               
               
                   
                   
                 2.6 (cm) 
               
               
                 Fruit: aperture of locules 
                 moderately open 
                 moderately open 
               
               
                 (in transverse section) 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Fruit: productivity 
                 Productivity: about 40 kg 
                 — 
               
               
                 (kg/tree) 
                 per tree 
                   
               
               
                 Time of beginning of 
                 medium 
                 medium 
               
               
                 flowering 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Time of harvest 
                 early 
                 early 
               
               
                 Duration of storage: 
                 long, about one month 
                 slightly short,  
               
               
                 common storage 
                 (August, Japan) 
                 10 days or less  
               
               
                   
                   
                 (August, Japan) 
               
               
                 Duration of storage: cold 
                 long (about 3 months at 
                 slightly short (about 
               
               
                 storage 
                 4° C.) 
                 20 days at 4° C.) 
               
               
                 Resistance to:  Alternalia   
                 strong 
                 strong 
               
               
                 blotch ( Alternalia mali   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Roberts) 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Tolerance to winter 
                 strong 
                 strong 
               
               
                 hardiness 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Tolerance to 
                 strong 
                 weak 
               
               
                 drought/heat