reference fruit to which all of the strains were 

 compared. The reference fruit was Kidd's D-8, 

 and this fact was not divulged to the panehsts. 

 Judges scored each fi*uit on a horizontal scale 

 with opposite descriptive terms at each end of 

 the line and the center represented by the refer- 

 ence fruit. The intensity of the deviation of each 

 fi-uit from the reference fruit was recorded by a 

 pencil mark either to the right or left of the 

 reference fruit. 



Taste pgmeUsts were able to distinguish dif- 

 ferences in quality and appearance among the 

 Gala strains. Royal, Scarlet, and Regal Gala all 

 were judged to have better flavor than Kidd's D- 

 8. Royal and Scarlet had the crispiest flesh. The 

 flesh of £dl red-coloring strains was more acid 

 than Kidd's D-8. There were no differences 

 eunong strains in aroma, skin toughness, juici- 

 ness, sweetness, or starchiness. Regal Gala was 

 judged to be the most attractive Gala strain. It 

 also had the brightest red color and the most 

 uniform color. 



There are legitimate concerns that the Gala 

 strains selected solely on the basis of red skin 

 color may not have the same high quality char- 

 acteristics of the original Kidd's D-8 strain. Not 

 only were all strains judged to be equal to Kidd's 

 D-8, but when panelists considered all factors 

 and rated overall desirability, Royal, Scarlet, 

 and Regal Gala were selected as being better 

 than Kidd's D-8. 



Conclusions 



Growth Emd bloom characteristics of Gala 

 strains appeared to be similar; however, all 

 strains bloomed heavily on one-year-old wood. 

 Because of the lower value of fruit borne on this 

 wood, thinning strategies should target these 

 fruit. 



Regal is an early maturing strain of Gala, 

 and was selected by paneUsts as the most attrac- 

 tive strain. Royal, Scarlet, and Regal were 

 judged to have better flavor and to be, overall, 

 more desirable than Kidd's D-8 Gala. 



%|# %% %% ^f^ ^% 



rj* #1% rj% #1% •Y* 



Fruit Notes, Winter, 1993 



19 



