Breeding report of a new later ripening apple cultivar Huayoubeiqian

Abstract: Huayoubeiqian is a late-ripening apple cultivar derived from the cross between Golden Delicious (female parent) and Huafu (male parent). In 1998, we completed the hybridization work in the Research Institute of Pomology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and obtained more than 300 hybrid seeds in the autumn. The seeds were sowed in the spring of 1999. The hybrid individual numbered BH7 was found to have strong vigor of tree in 2004. Its fruits tasted moderately sweet and sour. According to the professional test, the fruits of BH7 was suitable for juice-making. The BH7 was determined as an excellent strain in 2005. The results of the regional cultivation experiments showed that it was quite resistant to diseases and pests except for the ring spot. It was registered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in 2021 as Huayoubeiqian. The tree of Huayoubeiqian is ramous with open gesture. It is a late- ripening variety. In Xingcheng, Liaoning, the fruit ripening period is late October. The fruit is cylindrical. The average fruit weight is 200.0 g. The fruit ratio (vertical diameter/transverse diameter) is 0.98. The fruit russeting around stalk is large, and the russeting on the surface of fruit is medium. The fruit color is yellow green in natural condition. The fruit color with bagging cultivation is bright red. The fruit hardness is 12.00 kg∙cm^-2 . The fruit flesh is light yellow and juicy. The fruit flesh texture is hard and crispy. The soluble solids content is 18.60%, the soluble sugar content is 11.60%, the titratable acid content is 0.65%. The vitamin C content is 111.70 mg∙kg^-1 . It is precocious and productive with strong adaptability and could be cultivated in the area with a low temperature of ≥-30 ℃ in the winter. The appropriate spacing would be 3 m × 4 m for ordinary cultivation, and 2.5 m×4.0 m for high dense planting.