U.S. patent number PP25,406 [Application Number 13/815,821] was granted by the patent office on 2015-04-07 for apple tree named `lewis`.
The grantee listed for this patent is Brandon Lewis. Invention is credited to Brandon Lewis.
United States Patent |
PP25,406 |
Lewis |
April 7, 2015 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Apple tree named `Lewis`
Abstract
A new apple variety obtained from a limb sport of a `Honeycrisp`
apple tree, the new variety being distinguished by a much-improved
red color and improved resistance to bitter pit disorder.
Inventors: |
Lewis; Brandon (East Wenatchee,
WA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lewis; Brandon |
East Wenatchee |
WA |
US |
|
|
Family
ID: |
51535244 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/815,821 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2013 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20140283238 P1 |
Sep 18, 2014 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/161 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
6/7418 (20180501); A01H 5/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/161,172 |
Primary Examiner: Bell; Kent L
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Klarquist Sparkman, LLP
Claims
I claim:
1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree, substantially as
herein shown and described.
Description
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Malus
domestica Borkh.
Variety denomination: `Lewis`.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of
apple tree named `Lewis`. The new tree resulted from asexual
propagation of plant material from a naturally occurring sport that
I discovered in September of 2005 growing on a `Honeycrisp` apple
tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,197) in an orchard in Rock Island,
Wash. I took dormant wood from the limb sport in March of 2006 and
grafted this wood onto some existing apple trees of an unknown
variety in my orchard in East Wenatchee, Wash. One of these trees
still survives. Subsequently, at my direction, 40 trees were budded
onto `Budagovsky 9` (unpatented) understock. This budding took
place in September of 2007, with the budding being performed in
Quincy, Wash. These trees were subsequently transplanted to my
orchard in East Wenatchee, Wash. An additional group of 3,200 trees
of my new variety were budded on `M9-337` (unpatented) rootstock in
August of 2011 in my nursery in Quincy, Wash.
The observations of plant characteristics found in this description
are from the trees that were budded in 2007, and hence can be
considered to be fourth-leaf from planting or five year old
trees.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The `Lewis` cultivar is distinguished from the `Honeycrisp` apple
cultivar because of the following unique combination of
characteristics: Apples that consistently have 70%-90% of their
surface area that is a solid red blush; and low susceptibility to
bitter pit disorder.
FIG. 4 shows a typical apple of my `Lewis` variety on the left and
a typical apple of the `Honeycrisp` variety on the right. These
apples were both picked on the same day from trees growing in East
Wenatchee, Wash., and were photographed the next day. The
photograph exemplifies the more intense red color of apples of my
new variety in comparison to `Honeycrisp` apples.
Asexual reproduction of this new variety budded onto `Budagovsky 9`
rootstock in Quincy, Wash. and observation of the resulting trees
growing in East Wenatchee, Wash. has shown that the foregoing
characteristics are firmly fixed and come true to type.
The following detailed description is based upon observations of
the five year old trees of my new variety that were asexually
propagated by budding in 2007 in Quincy, Wash. and that are now
growing in my orchard in East Wenatchee, Wash.
Certain characteristics of this new variety, such as growth and
color, may change with changing environmental conditions (e.g.,
light, temperature, moisture, nutrient availability, or other
factors). Color descriptions and other terminology are used in
accordance with their ordinary dictionary descriptions, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. Color designations are made
with reference to Munsell Book of Color, Kollmorgen Instruments
Corp. 405 Little Britain Road, New Windsor, N.Y. 12553. The colors
of photographs may vary with lighting and other conditions and,
therefore, color characteristics of this new variety should be
determined with reference to the observations described herein,
rather than from the photographs alone.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a photograph of a representative apple on a tree limb of
a tree of the `Lewis` variety growing in East Wenatchee, Wash.,
taken in September of 2012.
FIG. 2 is a photograph of cross-sections of representative apples
of the `Lewis` variety, taken at the same time as the photograph of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a photograph of a five year old fruit bearing `Lewis`
tree, growing in East Wenatchee, Wash.
FIG. 4 is a photograph of representative `Lewis` (on the left) and
standard `Honeycrisp` (on the right) apples harvested on the same
day in East Wenatchee, Wash. and photographed the following
day.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following detailed description of the `Lewis` variety is based
on observations of the five year old trees of my new variety. The
observed progeny were growing on `Budagovsky 9` rootstock in my
orchard in East Wenatchee, Wash. Scientific name: Malus domestica
Borkh. Varietal name: `Lewis`. Parentage: Trees propagated from a
limp sport of `Honeycrisp` (U.S. Pat. No. 7,197). Tree:
Vigor.--Moderate. Habit.--Upright, spreading. Height.--About 6 feet
(five year old trees). Width.--About 3 feet (five year old trees).
Trunk.--Diameter of five year old trees is 11/4 inches measured at
12 inches above the budding union. Trunk bark texture.--Smooth.
Trunk bark color.--Gray Brown (10 YR 6/2). Trunk lenticels.--Color:
Tan (10 YR 7/6). Trunk lenticel shape.--Round, oblong. Trunk
lenticel size.-- 1/16'' .times. 3/32''. Branch length.--One year
old branches 12-16''; diameter 1/4'' to 3/16''. Crotch angle of
branches.--60-80.degree.. Bearing.--On spurs. Branch
color.--One-year-old branches are Brown (10 YR 3/6). Branch
pubescence.--Colorless pubescence over entire length of new branch
growth. Branch lenticels.--Density is approximately 30 per square
inch on 1-year-old branch, typical branch lenticels are mostly
round, occasionally oval, and measure about 1/64'' in diameter.
Branch lenticel color.--Tan (10 YR 7/6). Internode length.--Typical
internode length is about 11/4 inches on one-year-old branches.
Bearing.--Bearing has been annual for the 2011 and 2012 growing
seasons. Winter hardiness.--Hardy in East Wenatchee Wash.,
Hardiness Zone 4. Disease resistance.--For the most part, `Lewis`
has disease resistance identical to `Honeycrisp`, moderate scab
resistance, susceptible to powdery mildew, unknown resistance to
fire blight. However, unlike `Honeycrisp`, the `Lewis` cultivar
demonstrates greater resistance to bitter pit. These trees had no
bitter pit manifestation in spite of receiving no calcium spray
application. This is in contrast to the weekly sprays necessary to
prevent bitter pit from occurring in the standard `Honeycrisp`
trees growing in the same area of East Wenatchee, Wash. Leaves:
Based upon observations of ten typical `Lewis` tree leaves observed
on Jul. 25, 2012. Texture.--Surface smooth. Sheen.--Medium glossy
upper surface; lower surface dull. Length.--From about 21/2 inches
to about 31/4 inches, averaging about 3 inches. Width.--About 13/4
inches to 21/2 inches. Thickness.--About 1/128 of an inch.
Petiole.--About 1 to 11/2 inches long, and about 1/16 of an inch in
diameter; color Dark Green (2.5 GY 4/4). Margin.--Finely serrated.
Overall shape.--Long oblong. Tip shape.--Acute to acuminate. Base
shape.--Obtuse. Stipules.--Mostly lacking, except at branch tip; 2
opposite in arrangement; Light Green (2.5 GY 7/4) in color; shape
narrow; length about 3/8 of an inch long; width about 1/32 of an
inch. Leaf color.-- Upper leaf surface.--Green (2.5 GY 4/4). Lower
leaf surface.--Green (2.5 GY 5/4). Vein upper surface.--Medium
Green (2.5 GY 5/6). Vein lower surface.--Light Green (2.5 GY 7/6).
Pubescence.--Upper surface glabrous. Lower surface
pubescence.--(2.5 GY 9/2). Flowers: Buds.--Quantity: 4 to 6 buds
per spur. Bud size.--Three-eighths of an inch long by 1/4 of an
inch in diameter. Flower size when open.--One-and-a-quarter inches
to 11/2 inches in diameter. Color.--Tight bud: Deep Rose (7.5 RP
4/10); Petal color: fully open flower: Pale Pink (7.5 RP 9/2) to
pure white, with more Pink (7.5 RP 6/8) along veins of petals of
the inside surface of the flower. Color of the outside surface of a
fully opened flower: Pale Pink (7.5 RP 8/4 to 7.5 RP 9/2) to pure
white. Pedicel.--Light Green (5 GY 7/4); size about 1 inch long by
1/16 inch in diameter. Petals.--5 petals per flower; petal size
about 1 inch long by 1/2 inch wide; arrangement: overlapping
slightly. Petal shape is wide ovate. Petal apex is rounded. Petal
margin: smooth and free. Petal base is rounded. Upper surface
(inside) texture is slightly rippled. Lower (outside) petal texture
is slightly fluted. Sepals.--Quantity per flower 5; position:
typical, recurved downward; overall shape is deltoid; the apex is
acuminate; sepal margin is smooth and pubescent, length about
1/2''; width about 3/16''; color of both upper and lower surfaces:
Medium Green (5 GY 6/6). Stamens.--Number: 10-18.
Anthers.--Quantity per flower 10-18; renal shaped; width about 1/16
of an inch; length about 3/32 of an inch; pollen color: Bright
Yellow (5Y 8/12). Filaments.--Length 1/4''; color: Cream (7.5 Y
9/4). Pistil.--Length 5/16''. Styles.--Number 5; form: joined at
base; average length about 3/8 of an inch; color: Cream (7.5 Y
9/4). Ovary.--Length 1/8 of an inch; color light green (5 GY 7/4);
pubescent. Stigma.--Shape: Irregular, oblong, clubbed; color:
Medium Brownish Yellow (2.5 Y 6/10). Peduncle.--Length about 1/8 of
an inch to about 1/4 of an inch; color: Dull Green (5 GY 7/4);
finely pubescent; approximately 3/16'' in diameter at base. Similar
to standard `Honeycrisp` trees. Pollination requirement.--Presumed
to be diploid, self-sterile, like standard `Honeycrisp` trees.
Bloom season: Initial bloom date in 2012 observed in East
Wenatchee, Wash.: Apr. 25, 2012. Full bloom date in 2012 observed
in East Wenatchee, Wash.: Apr. 30, 2012. Fruit: Observations from a
limited sampling of typical fruit in a laboratory that were
obtained on Sep. 17, 2012, from a `Lewis` tree growing in East
Wenatchee, Wash. Size.--Very large, from about 23/4 to 31/2 inches
long and 31/4 to 33/4 inches at widest point. Position of maximum
diameter.--Just above the equator. Form.--Round conic.
Ribbing.--Absent. Stem cavity.--11/4 to 2 inches wide and 3/4 to 1
inch deep. Stem.--Medium thickness; about 1 inch long and 1/8 of an
inch in diameter, color: Yellow Green (10 Y 7/8). Crowning at calyx
end.--Absent. Aperture of the eye.--Closed. Sepals at eye
basin.--Surface texture is downy; color Gray Green (2.5 GY 7/4).
Eye basin.--About 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch deep and about 11/2 to 13/4
inches wide; fine pubescence observed as present; shape: slightly
furrowed. Skin.--Intensity of color is bright; bloom of skin is
absent; greasiness is absent. Skin lenticels.--Generally distinct;
numbers about 15 per square inch appearing at the stem end of the
fruit and about 75 per square inch appearing at the calyx end of
the fruit; surface texture of lenticels is generally smooth. Skin
lenticel color.--Pale Pink (10 R 9/2); size of lenticels: variable
from 1/64 to 1/32 of an inch. Core.--Generally 1 inch in size
average; core position is Basal Clasping. Locules.--Shape is
narrow, closed; size of locule: 1/8 of an inch by 1/2 of an inch.
Locules number 5 per apple. There are 1-2 seeds per locule.
Tube.--Shape is cone shaped. Stamen position.--Generally considered
median. Axis position.--Considered closed. Seed.--Number: Generally
six seeds, occasionally ten; shape: acuminate; length: 3/16 of an
inch; width: about 1/4 of an inch; color is Dark Brown (5 YR 2/4).
Fruit flesh.--Generally very firm, crisp, and juicy; color is
Creamy Yellow (5 Y 9/4). Fruit aroma.--Considered mild and typical
for the species. Starch.--Generally about 4 out of 6 starch level
in iodine at prime maturity. Acids are 0.5% acidity. Fruit
pressure.--19. Soluble solids.--14. Skin color.--Generally Solid
Red Blush. Generally red in color over 70%-90% of the fruit; color
ranges.--From Medium Red (5 R 4/10) to Dark Red (2.5 R 3/4). Ground
color of the skin.--Light Greenish Yellow (10 Y 8.5/6).
Russetting.--Absent. Harvest: Yield.--`Lewis` trees yield
approximately 50 pounds of apples per tree in the 5.sup.th leaf.
This yield is similar to a standard `Honeycrisp` yield from a tree
of the same age. Individual fruit weight.--`Lewis` apples typically
weight from 8 ounces to 14 ounces, similar to typical `Honeycrisp`
individual fruit weight. Tendency to crack.--Tendency to crack is
similar to standard Honeycrisp; however, because the fruit is
redder, it is more likely to be picked at earlier fruit maturity,
which leads to less cracking. Cold storage.--Good condition when in
cold storage for 200+ days at 38.degree. F. Market use.--Dessert,
baking and juice. Harvest date.--September 15.sup.th in East
Wenatchee, Wash. during 2012.
COMPARISON OF HARVEST DATE
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Table 1: Harvest date for `Lewis` and
`Honeycrisp` in East Wenatchee, Washington. Variety (*) 2011
harvest dates 2012 harvest dates `Honeycrisp` (U.S. Plant Pat.
September 20.sup.th September 18.sup.th No. PP7,197) `Lewis`
September 18.sup.th September 15.sup.th (*) Ready for harvest date.
`Lewis` observed in East Wenatchee, Washington; `Honeycrisp`
observed in Quincy, Washington.
* * * * *