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GALA: A NEW CULTIVAR FOR NEW ENGLAND? 



Duane W. Greene and Wesley R. Autio 



Department of Plant & Soil Sciences 



Univeristy of Massachusetts 



Gala is a new apple cultivar that was recently introduced from New 

 Zealand. This cultivar is being planted extensively in the United States 

 and elsewhere in the world. The purpose of this article is to update a pre- 

 vious report ( Fruit Notes '49{2):l8. igS't) and to present preliminary infor- 

 mation on the suitability of Gala for culture under New England conditions. 



Gala was introduced in New Zealand in 1962 by Dr. Donald McKenzie. It 

 was the result of a cross between Kidd's Orange and Golden Delicious. We 

 planted Gala/M26 in 1978 at the Horticultural Research Center. The fruit is 

 smooth round conic with a red strip over a golden yellow ground color. We 

 have noted no russeting tendencies similar to Golden Delicious. The flesh 

 is firm, yellow, juicy, and more dense than other apple cultivars. The 

 distinctive spicy flavor, the attractive color, and the firm crisp flesh 

 make Gala an apple that is distinctive and easily identifiable. 



Our experience at the Horticultural Research Center confirms other 

 reports that it is both precocious and productive. The first commercial 

 crop was produced 3 years after planting and in the fourth year production 

 was up to 3.3 bu/tree (Table 1). If these trees were planted at a spacing 

 of 12/22, as we currently recommend (175 trees/ acre), the yield during this 

 fourth year would have been over 500 bu/acre. Trees have continued to be 

 productive so that in their 7th leaf over 8 bu/tree or 1300 bu/acre were 

 harvested. They have shown no sign of biennial bearing. Preharvest drop 

 has not been a problem so that the use of daminozide as a stop-drop would 

 not be necessary. 



Table 1. Yield of Gala/M26 planted at the Horticultural Research 

 Center in 1978. 



1981 1982 1983 198i» 1985 Total 

 Yield/tree (bu)* 0.^4 3-3 2.7 ^.3 8.4 19. 1 

 Yield/. ere (bu) 66 S'fS 4^5 710 I386 3152 



*Based on 12 X 22 planting distance (l65 trees/acre) 



