EVALUATION OF DELICIOUS STRAINS 



William J. Lord, Richard A. Damon, Jr., James F. Anderson 



and 

 Franklin W. Southwick 

 University of Massachusetts, Amherst 



A planting was established in 1964 at the Horticultural Re- 

 search Center, Belchertown, MA to evaluate the following Delicious 

 strains on M7 rootstock: Richared, Turner Red, Jardine Red, Royal 

 Red, Gardner Red, Red Prince, Rogers Red, Sturdeespur (Miller 

 Strain), and Starkrimson (Bisbee strain), the last two being spurs. 

 The experiment was a randomized block design with 6 single-tree re- 

 plicates. The trees were planted at 20 feet by 30 feet spacing. 

 Summarized below are our findings to date. The full report is pub- 

 lished in the 1979 Proceeding of the Mass. Fruit Growers' Association, 

 Volume 85, pp 76-83~] ^ '~ 



Color Evaluations 



Rogers Red, Royal Red, Starkrimson, and Sturdeespur have rated 

 best in color evaluations. Gardner Red fruits have less intense red 

 pigmentation than these strains and should be suitable for those who 

 like less color intensity. Red color on Turner Red lacks somewhat 

 in uniformity and is less intense than on Starkrimson, Royal Red, 

 Sturdeespur, and Rogers Red. The fruits of Jardine Red are blush 

 with some striping but lack the intensity of red needed to meet 

 present standards for color. 



Production 



Why Delicious is unproductive in the eastern United States was 

 the subject of a conference hosted by the USDA in 1977. Researchers 

 in attendance stated that strains differ in fruitfulness but there 

 was a lack of supportive data. It was reported that spur-type strains 

 perform somewhat better than standard- type strains and that Red Prince, 

 Richared, and Royal Red in some apple growing areas are less productive 

 than other strains. 



We lost 2 of our Red Prince trees in 1972, but by statistical 

 techniques it was possible to obtain an estimate of yields. Thus, 

 the productivity of Red Prince in comparison to other strains in the 

 test is reported. 



Early Production : Yield data were first recorded in 1970 when 

 the trees were in their 7th year, and at this time the strains averaged 

 at least a bushel per tree. In 1970 production per tree was similar 

 among strains. Gardner Red produced more fruit per tree than either 

 spur strain in 1971. In 1972, Turner Red was more productive than the 

 spur strains. 



