Language selection

Search

Davison Gala

Apple

Denomination: 'Davison Gala'
Botanical Name: Malus domestica
Applicant/Holder: Davison, Thomas
3280 Davison Road
Vernon, British Columbia
V1H 1A2
Canada

Davison, Tamara
3280 Davison Road
Vernon, British Columbia
V1H 1A2
Canada
Breeder: Thomas Davison, Vernon, British Columbia
Tamara Davison, Vernon, British Columbia
Application Date: 2005-10-18
Application Number: 05-5120
Grant of Rights Date: 2007-11-19
Certificate Number: 2994
Date rights revoked: 2019-11-19

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Olsentwo Gala' (Pacific Gala) and 'Royal Gala'

Summary: 'Davison Gala' is a sport of 'Royal Gala' and is distinguished from 'Royal Gala' and 'Olsentwo Gala' by the very high amount of bright red overcolour which develops simultaneously on the fruit. By comparison, 'Royal Gala' has a low to medium amount of overcolour and 'Olsentwo Gala' has a moderately high amount. The overcolour in 'Royal Gala' is in flecks and streaks, in 'Olsentwo Gala' it is flecks, streaks and blush, and in 'Davison Gala' it is mostly blush with some streaks and flecks. The fruit of 'Davison Gala' has more prominent lenticels than either of the two reference varieties and has yellowish coloured flesh, whereas 'Olsentwo Gala' and 'Royal Gala' both have cream coloured flesh. 'Davison Gala' also has a longer, thicker fruit stalk than the reference varieties. In the Okanagan valley 'Davison Gala' matures about one week earlier than 'Royal Gala' and 'Olsentwo Gala'.

Description:

TREE: medium vigour, upright habit, fruit bearing on spurs
BRANCHES: high frequency, medium strength, more than 90 degrees to trunk
ONE-YEAR OLD SHOOT: weak to medium pubescence, medium shine on bark, medium flexibility, medium to many small lenticels, brown on sunny side
LATERAL BUD: medium size, pointed tip, adpressed to axis, medium size bud support

SHOOT TIP LEAF: green, concave in cross section, no pubescence on upper side, green on lower side
MATURE LEAF: no lobing, medium size, upwards orientation, acuminate apex, serrate margin, medium glossiness on upper side, moderate pubescence on lower side, medium to dark green on upper side, no anthocyanin colouration

FLOWER: single, mid-season flowering, medium pink and white bud in balloon stage, green pedicel
PETAL: ovate, free margins, dark purple red and white on upper side, purple and white on lower side

FRUIT: large size, globose conical shape, asymmetric in side view, medium ribbing, medium to strong crowning at distal end, large open eye, early to mid-season maturity
SEPAL: persistent, medium length, touching at base
EYE BASIN: deep, medium width
FRUIT STALK: medium to thick, long, moderately deep and wide stalk cavity
FRUIT SKIN: smooth, medium bloom, medium waxiness, medium translucence, creamy yellow ground colour, very high amount of red to dark red overcolour, overcolour blushed with flecks and streaks, very low amount of russet on cheeks, prominent medium sized lenticels
FRUIT FLESH: yellowish, very weak core line, open aperture of locules, very firm, intermediate texture, medium to high juiciness, strong browning tendency one hour after cutting

SEED: brown, normal shape

Origin & Breeding History: 'Davison Gala' was discovered as a single branch sport of 'Royal Gala' at Davison's Orchard in Vernon, B.C. in September 1999. A single tree of 'Royal Gala' was cut off and a single bud grew to become the top of the tree. This branch, which became the leader, showed a higher degree of over-colouring than the original 'Royal Gala' tree, and the colour was uniform, covering 90% to 100% of the skin. Full colour developed on all fruit simultaneously. This simultaneous colouring allows the apple to be harvested in one or at most 2 picks. The selection criteria used were fruit quality, colour, size, taste, form, maturity date, firmness and storage life. Also considered were tree growth habit, precocity, productivity and harvest indices. The variety was multiplied by budding on Malling 9 and Budagovsky 9 rootstock in 2000, and the resulting generations were evaluated until 2005.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Davison Gala' were conducted at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, B.C. from 2002 to 2005. The 'Davison Gala' and 'Royal Gala' selection were from Davison's Orchard, Vernon, B.C. and the 'Olsentwo Gala' selection was from the Certified Budwood Orchard in Summerland. The original buds were propagated in nurseries in the Certified Budwood Orchard and planted in a soft fruit block "B" at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre. The trials consisted of 10 trees per variety. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 10 measurements.


Comparison tables for 'Davison Gala' with reference varieties 'Olsentwo Gala' and 'Royal Gala'

Leaf length (mm)

  'Davison Gala' 'Olsentwo Gala' 'Royal Gala'
mean 90.1 95.8 113.3
std. deviation 16.8 8.9 19.4

Leaf width (mm)

  'Davison Gala' 'Olsentwo Gala' 'Royal Gala'
mean 56.5 50.5 64.6
std. deviation 15.6 4.1 4.7

Diameter of flower (mm)

  'Davison Gala' 'Olsentwo Gala' 'Royal Gala'
mean 48.3 54.4 54.8
std. deviation 4.4 4.8 5.9

Colour of petal (RHS)

  'Davison Gala' 'Olsentwo Gala' 'Royal Gala'
upper side 155D/60B 155D/62C 155D/64A
upper side when faded 155D/59C 155D/62C 155D/70D
lower side 59C/155D 70B/155A 61A/155A

Click on image for larger view
Davison Gala
Apple: 'Davison Gala' (centre) with reference varieties 'Royal Gala' (left) and 'Olsentwo Gala' (right)

Click on image for larger view
Davison Gala
Apple: 'Davison Gala' (top) with reference variety 'Royal Gala' (bottom)

Date modified: