Apple tree named ‘GalaMic’

Latin name: Malus domestica Borkh.

Variety denomination: ‘GalaMic’.

‘GalaMic’ is a new and distinct variety of apple tree ( Malus domestica Borkh), which variety originated as a limb sport mutation of ‘Gala’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,637, expired). ‘GalaMic’ was discovered by the inventor in a cultivated orchard at Zevio, Verona, Italy in 2010, and was selected for further observation because of the distinctive early and even coloring of its fruit. ‘GalaMic’ was first asexually propagated by chip budding in 2011 at Presina, Italy, and has since been observed to remain true to type over successive asexually propagated generations.

‘GalaMic’ was first selected for its distinctive fruit, which is fully colored well before harvest. Fruit of ‘GalaMic’ is also distinguished by its solid purple overcolor and its readiness for harvest in a single pick. Comparisons of ‘GalaMic’ to ‘Gala Schnico’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,577), ‘Galaval’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,909), ‘Gala 0502’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,235) and ‘Gala’ are set forth below.

One hundred percent of the fruit of ‘GalaMic’ can be harvested in a single pick, as compared to about fifty percent to eighty percent of ‘Gala Schnico’.

FIG. 1 shows trees of ‘GalaMic’;

FIG. 2 shows a flower of ‘GalaMic’;

FIG. 3 shows a ‘GalaMic’ tree (left) and a ‘Gala Schnico’ tree (right);

FIG. 4 shows whole and sectioned fruit of ‘GalaMic’ (left and center) and ‘Buckeye’ (right);

FIG. 5 shows fruit of ‘GalaMic’ (left), ‘Buckeye’ (center) and ‘Galaval’ (right); and,

FIG. 6 shows leaves and immature fruit of ‘GalaMic’ (left) and ‘Gala Schnico’ (right).

Actual colors will vary with lighting conditions; color characteristics of ‘GalaMic’ apple tree should therefore be determined with reference to the observations described herein below, rather than from these illustrations alone.

The attached illustrations and the following detailed botanical description of ‘GalaMic’ apple tree are based on observations made and photos taken during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons at Cornaiano, Italy of trees planted in 2013 on ‘M9 T337’ virus free rootstock (not patented). All colors are described according to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (2001). The characteristics described will vary somewhat depending upon cultural practices and climatic conditions, and will vary with location and season. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from a number of individual plants of the new variety. The measurements of any individual plant or any group of plants of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

Tree:

Vigor .—Low. Type .—Spur. Habit .—Spreading. Height .—Low, max 1.9 m. Trunk diameter ( at 30 cm above the graft ).—2.2 cm+/−0.2 cm. Bark texture .—Smooth. Bark color .—Grey-brown 199A. Type of bearing .—On spurs and long shoots.

Branch (fruiting branches located at around 1 m above the graft union):

Length .—Max 20 cm. Diameter.— 0.8 cm+/−0.1 cm. Crotch angle.— 110 degrees+/−10 degrees. Bark color .—Grey-brown N199A. Lenticel length.— 0.14 cm+/−0.05 cm. Lenticel color .—Yellow-white 158A. Number of lenticels per cm 2 .—5+/−2 per cm 2 .

One year old shoot:

Length.— 15 cm+/−10 cm. Color .—Grey-brown N199B. Pubescence .—Very weak. Thickness.— 0.4 cm+/−0.1 cm. Internode length.— 1.1 cm+/−0.5 cm. Number of lenticels per cm 2 .—12+/−2 per cm 2 .

Flower buds:

Quantity per spur.— 6 per spur. Shape .—Oval. Length.— 0.6 cm. Diameter.— 0.4 cm. Color .—Greyed-purple N187A.

Flowers:

Diameter of fully open flower.— 5 cm+/−0.2 cm. Relative position of petal margin .—Not touching. Number per cluster.— 5 plus king flower. Date of first bloom .—April 10. Date of full bloom .—April 17. Pollination requirement .—Pollenizer required (‘Fuji’, ‘Red Delicious’, ‘Granny Smith’).

Petals (all measured on king flower):

Number per flower.— 5. Shape .—Oval. Length.— 2.4 cm+/−0.2 cm. Width.— 1.4 cm+/−0.2 cm. Apex .—Round. Base .—Pointy. Margin .—Unruffled. Color of upper surface .—White NN155C with red 54C veins. Color of lower surface .—White NN155C with red 54B veins.

Stigma:

Position .—Above anthers (similar to ‘Golden Delicious’). Size.— 0.08 cm+/−0.1 cm. Color .—Yellow 5A.

Style:

Size.— 1.0 cm+/−0.1 cm. Color .—Yellow-green 145A.

Ovary:

Size.— 0.5 cm+/−0.1 cm. Color .—Yellow-green 144A.

Anthers:

Quantity.— 10+/−2. Length.— 0.7 cm+/−0.1 cm. Pollen .—Present, yellow 10A.

Pedicel:

Length.— 2.8 cm+/−0.2 cm. Diameter.— 0.1 cm+/−0.02 cm. Color .—Greyed-orange 166A.

Sepals:

Quantity.— 5. Color .—Yellow-green 142B. Shape .—Pointed, triangular. Margin .—Smooth.

Leaves:

Shape .—Elliptic. Length .—Up to 14 cm. Width .—Up to 5 cm. Blade margin .—Serrate. Apex .—Acute. Base shape .—Equilateral. Division .—Simple. Arrangement .—Alternate. Venation .—Pinnate. Color of upper surface .—Green 139A. Color of lower surface .—Green 139C. Vein color .—Central vein 183B; branching veins 145C. Attitude in relation to shoot .—Outward.

Petiole:

Length.— 4.8 cm+/−0.7 cm. Diameter.— 1.5 mm+/−0.1 cm. Color .—Greyed-purple 183B on mature leaf.

Fruit:

Quantity per cluster .—Up to 5. Diameter.— 79 mm+/−7 mm. Weight.— 220 g+/−30 g. General shape in profile .—Conic. Position of maximum diameter .—Upper 50% in profile. Ribbing .—Absent or weak. Crowning at calyx end .—Moderate. Length of sepal.— 0.5 cm+/−0.1 cm. Bloom of skin .—Medium. Greasiness of skin .—Absent. Background color of skin .—Not visible. Amount of over color.— 100%. Over color of skin .—Purple N79A. Intensity of over color .—High. Pattern of over color .—Only solid flush. Amount of russet around stalk cavity .—Absent or small. Amount of russet on cheeks .—Absent. Area of russet around eye basin .—Absent. Length of stalk.— 2.2 cm+/−0.2 cm. Thickness of stalk.— 0.3 cm+/−0.1 cm. Depth of stalk cavity.— 1.45 cm+/−0.2 cm. Width of stalk cavity.— 1.65 cm+/−0.2 cm. Size of eye .—Small. Depth of eye basin.— 0.85 cm to 1 cm deep. Width of eye basin.— 2.35 cm+/−0.2 cm. Firmness of flesh .—Medium, 6.7 kg per cm 2 . Flesh texture .—Crisp. Aroma .—Sweet. Juiciness .—High. Brix.— 14 to 15° Brix. Flesh color .—Yellow 10D. Number of lenticels.— 8+/−2 per cm 2 . Size of lenticels .—Large, up to 3 mm diameter. Aperture of locules .—Moderately open. Stem color .—Brown 200B.

Seeds:

Quantity per fruit .—Up to 2 per chamber, maximum 10 per fruit. Shape .—Pointed. Length.— 0.8 cm+/−0.1 cm. Width.— 0.45 cm+/−0.1 cm. Color .—Greyed-orange 177A.

Harvest:

Time for harvest .—Mid-August, similar to other mid-season ‘Gala’ varieties. Number of picks.— 1. Amount of fruit produced per tree per harvest.— 15 kg+/−2 kg.

Disease resistance/susceptibility: None noted; same as other ‘Gala’ varieties.

Market use .—Fresh. Storageability .—Up to 9 months in controlled atmosphere storage.