リンゴ新品種 \u27きたろう\u27

\u27Kitaro\u27 is a midseason, medium-sized yellow apple (Malus pumila Mill.) released in 1997 by the National Institute of Fruit Tree Science (NIFTS), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. \u27Kitaro\u27 originated from a cross of \u27Fuji\u27 X \u27Hatsuaki\u27 made in 1976. The tree was first selected based on its fruit quality and growth habit in 1986, and was subjected to the regional trial as selection number Apple Morioka No.52 from 1989, conducted at 19 research sites in 14 prefectures in Japan. It was ultimately selected and released as \u27Kitaro\u27 in 1997, and registered as No.8222 under the Plant Variety Protection and Seed Act of Japan on July 31, 2000. The \u27Kitaro\u27 fruit ripens in mid-October at NIFTS in Morioka, about one week earlier than \u27Golden Deliciou\u27s. The shape of the fruit is oblate, medium size weighing an average of 266 g at Morioka, a size similar to \u27Golden Deliciou\u27s. The fruit has a light greenish-yellow surface color at harvest time with a dull pink blush on the side exposed to intense sunlight and some skin russet mainly around the calyx end and on the cheeks. Cracking at the stem end occasionally occurs to some extent. The fruit quality is excellent, slightly coarse, firm, crisp and juicy. The mean soluble solids content (Brix) and titratable acidity as malic acid in juice are 15.7% and 0.51 g/100 ml, respectively. The fruit has a rather good shelf life and maintains its firmness and crisp texture in refrigerated storage for about 3 months. The tree is medium in vigor, spreading in shape and moderately productive, blooming about 4 days later than \u27Fuji\u27. Since the S-genotype of \u27Kitaro\u27 is S_3 S_9, it is cross-compatible with major commercial cultivars. \u27Kitaro\u27 has a tendency to preharvest drop and is resistant to Alternaria leaf spot