Breeding of a Xinjiang native mid-season apple variety, Qiulimeng

adaptability, strong barren resistance and cold resistance. It can survive the winter safely on ground in Northern Xinjiang. This apple variety can be planted in areas of Northern Xinjiang. The spacing of Qiulimeng plant is recommended to be 3 m × 5 m, i.e. 44 plants per mu. It is advisable to adopt grafting propagation. Wild apple is the appropriate invigorating rootstock. The combination of wild apple (rootstock) + KM23 (inter stock) + Qiulimeng displays dwarfness. Haitao, Xinping 2, and Xinping 3 are recommended for pollinizers, and the ratio of the main cultivars to the pollinizer trees is 5∶1 to 8∶1. Due to the strong vigor of the trees and tall crowns and the cold climate in northern Xinjiang, attention should be paid on tree training and pruning, and adopt crown control to reduce the height of trees. Attention should also be paid on prevention and control of pests and diseases such as heartworms, green leafhoppers, aphids, red spiders, spring geometrids, rot, defoliation, powdery mildew and so on.Qiulimeng is a native variety found in Ili Prefecture of Xinjiang in 2006. It has been cultivated for decades in the Ili River basin and Qitai County of Changji Prefecture, and its parents are unknown. Because of its small planting area, it has not been well-known and promoted. Since its discovery, regional tests have been carried out in three regions in Northern Xinjiang (Tekes County, Tacheng City and Qitai County) for seven years. After years of continuous evaluation and observation, it shows that the biological characteristics of this variety are stable. Finally, it was certified as an improved variety in 2021 and named Qiulimeng. Qiulimeng plants grow very strongly, with tall and open crowns. The 1-year-old branches are purple brown; the perennial branches are grayish brown on the sunny side and greenish brown on the shady side. The leaves are large, 12.5 cm long and 8.5 cm wide, oval, and light green. There are many hairs on the back of the leaf; the leaf margin is lobed; and the petiole is about 4 cm long. The fruit is oblate to conical, with yellow green background, magenta or rosy glow on the sunny side, smooth fruit surface, fine and soft flesh, rust on the handle, much juice, sweet and sour flavor, and strong aroma. The longitudinal diameter is about 5 cm; the transverse diameter about 7 cm; and the average single fruit weight is 120 g. The content of soluble sugar is about 3.16%; the content of soluble solids about 11.1%; the content of total phenol 3.17 mg · g-1 ; the content of Vitamin C 3.98 mg · 100 g-1 . The saplings of Qiulimeng grow vigorously, and the seedlings may grow up to 1.0-1.2 m in the first year after grafting. The grafted seedlings may start to bloom and bear fruit in the third year. In the fifth year, it enters the high-yield period, with a yield of 3000 kg per 666.7 m2 . The fruit development period is 140- 150 days, and ripens in late September in Northern Xinjiang. The variety has a strong plant