Utvärdering av Balsgårds nya äppelgenbank

Abstract: To identify and evaluate apple cultivars is not an easy task, since the taste and appearances of the fruit are affected by where the apple tree grows. At the Balsgård new apple gene bank there is a unique and interesting collection of over 260 different cultivars from all over the world. To find out if these cultivars are consistent with previously published descriptions, the fruit was evaluated for some of the cultivars. Among the evaluated cultivars some were selected that could be suitable for cultivation and/or fruit breeding. A few cultivars were in addition analyzed at a consumer evaluation at the Kivik apple market where visitors could vote for the most beautiful apple and the best taste. The result shows that Aroma is still a cultivar that is hard to compete with, especially in the category "Best taste". Those cultivars from the gene bank that obtained the best result in this category were, Fredrik, Konsta, McShay, Rajka and Redsleeves. The most beautiful apples among the gene bank selections were Frida, Konsta, Redsleeves, Reglindis, Reka, Remo, Retina and Sawa. The cultivar that obtained the best overall result in both categories was Redsleeves.