Dave,
The reason for my comment was that very small, bumpy, deformed apple
fruit can be the result of rosy apple aphid feeding on young fruit at
early stages. Campyloma bug feeding on young fruit also can cause
deformed fruit. Both are problems best addressed by entomologists
within our audience (rather than me, a plant pathologist). However, the
restriction of the symptoms to just the Pristine with the Sundance
apples immediately adjacent being unaffected would argue against an
insect cause, I would think.
Harold L.
--
Dr. Harold Larsen, Interim Manager - WCRC
Res. Pathologist & Ext. Fruit Dis. Specialist
Colo. St. Univ., WCRC - Orchard Mesa
3168 B 1/2 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81503-9621
Ph: (970) 434-3264, x-205
FAX: (970) 434-1035
EMail: harold.lar...@colostate.edu
Dave Meyer wrote:
Thanks - I see - another commendable early apple (like the Lodi).
I will keep a digital photo record of the fruit development.
These apples look like they are being bitten by something very early
in their development causing the irregular deformation. The Sundance
right next to it is blemish free. And this happens every year.
Both trees got a great pollination this year - they are loaded.
*From:* Bill Shoemaker <mailto:wshoe...@inil.com>
*Sent:* Thursday, May 21, 2009 8:03 AM
*To:* Apple-Crop <mailto:apple-crop@virtualorchard.net>
*Subject:* Re: Apple-Crop: Re: Pristine apple tree
Dave
I have a couple of Pristine trees on B9 that are about 10 years
old now, maybe a couple of years older. The fruit tend to be
oblate shaped and with distinct lobing that makes them look a
little misshapened. I suspect if pollination isn't optimum, that
trait may be pronounced. Harold may be on to an important issue as
well.
Further, I was not impressed by the quality of fruit early, but
over time I learned its peak maturity and have become a fan of it
as an apple for fresh eating. I've given them away to a number of
people in recent years to learn their response and have had only
favorable responses. So I think it's an apple that needs a little
patience and a learning curve, but is rewarding in the end. Its
certainly become a consistently good apple in that maturity
window, which has little else to offer in northern Illinois.
Bill
> I planted Pristine, Sundance and Pixie Crunch in 2002.
> I am having consistent annual problems with the Pristine.
> Despite what is implied by its name, I am having a uniquely
> bad apple quality from this tree.
>
> Spray schedule:
> 1/ dormant oil
> 2/ Fertilome Blight Spray (streptomycin) was applied during bloom.
> 3/ Following bloom drop - every 7 - 10 days with Imidan and Captan.
>
> Every year, the fruits are notably irregular shaped, bumpy and
malformed.
> They are certainly not smooth and pristine. They are the
> only variety out of 20 I have that do this. And the malformation
> is noticeable when fruit is just forming - finger tip sized.
> Any idea what is causing this? Everything else about
> the growth of this Pristine Apple is fine.
> Thanks.
>
>
> Dave Meyer
> Home orchardist
> Greenville, OH
Bill Shoemaker
University of Illinois
St Charles Horticulture Research Center
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