Breeding of a New Mid-season Apple Cultivar 'Yeohong'

Abstract. A new cultivar ‘Yeohong’ was originated from an artificial cross between ‘Jonathan’ and ‘Fuji’ carried out at National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science in 1993. The cultivar was preliminarily selected among the elite siblings for its high fruit quality in 2002. After regional adaptability test at five districts for subsequent four years as ‘Wonkyo Ga-31’, it was finally selected in 2007. ‘Yeohong’ is characterized by the following. Optimum harvest time is late September. Shape of mature fruit at 278 g on mean weight is oblate a light red skin on a greenish yellow ground and yellowish white flesh. The fruit contains favorable total soluble solids at 14.3 °Brix and titratable acidity at 0.4%, which results in a gustatory harmony between sugars and acids. Safe storage period for the fruit is 3 weeks at room temperature. It is not resistant to Bitter rot. ‘Yeohong’ also reveals a physiological cross compatibility with leading cultivars such as ‘Hongro’ and ‘Tsugaru’, but a physiological cross incompatibility with ‘Fuji’. It has weak growth habit.