100 



90 



ao 



70 



60 



60 



40 



Red color (%) 



Rogers 



Marshall 



Redmax 



Figure 3. Red color of Redmax, Marshall Mcin- 

 tosh, and Rogers Mcintosh fruit harvested on 

 September 7, 1988 and on September 26, 1989 

 from 7 replications planted in 1985 in Colrain, 

 MA. 



Mcintosh, possibly also allowing an advancement of 

 the harvest season. In this article we will detail some of 

 the early observations of Redmax in 2 plantings in 

 Massachusetts. 



In 1985, Redmax/M.26 and Summerland Red 

 Mclntosh/M.26 were planted in a replicated trial at the 

 Horticultural Research Center (Belchertown, MA), 

 and Redmax/M.7A, Marshall McIntosh/M.7A and 

 Rogers McIntosh/M.7A were planted in a replicated 

 trial at Pine Hill Orchards (Colrain, MA). In 1988 and 

 1989 at Colrain and in 1989 at Belchertown, assess- 

 ments of fruit coloring and ripening were made. 



Internal ethylene data from Colrain (Figure 1) and 

 from Belchertown (Figure 2) show that Redmax did 

 not ripen earlier than other strains, since the ethylene 

 accumulations were equivalent to those of standard 

 strains. The 1988 harvest in Colrain was made on 

 September 7 and Redmax had colored significantly 

 more than either Rogers or Marshall (Figure 3). The 

 1989 harvest was made on September 26, and at that 

 time Redmax and Marshall were colored to a similar 

 degree, and both were significantly more colored than 

 Rogers (Figure 3). In 1989, coloring of Redmax and 



100 



Red color (%) 



a/30 



9/6 



9/13 9/20 



9/27 



10/4 



10/11 



Figure 4. Red color development of Summerland 

 Red Mcintosh and Redmax fruit in 1989. Fruit 

 were from 5 replications of trees planted in 1985 

 in Belchertown, MA. 



Summerland in Belchertown was followed weekly 

 from September 6 through October 4 (Figure 4). On 

 September 6, Redmax fruit averaged 73% red, whereas 

 Summerland fruit averaged only 40% red. 



Our observations have shown that Redmax clearly 

 is a "striper". On the poorly colored portions of fruit, a 

 stripe is evident. Some people may find this stripe 

 objectionable. In high coloring regions the degree of 

 coloring is so high that the stripe will not be a major 

 concern; however, this striping may be of some concern 

 where coloring conditions are less favorable. 



It is clear from these data that Redmax is an early 

 coloring strain of Mcintosh; however, it does not ap- 

 pear to be an early ripening strain. Therefore, care 

 must be taken not to harvest Redmax when it is ade- 

 quately colored but not mature. However, we feel that 

 it still can be considered a strain which may advance 

 the harvest season. A high percentage of the Redmax 

 crop will be able to be harvested in the early portion of 

 the normal season with adequate color, thus leaving 

 few fruit on the tree for late-season harvests and for 

 loss to preharvest drop. 



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Fwit Notes, Spring, 1990 



