Spur type winter banana apple tree--Frecon cultivar

Abstract

A new and distinct spur type apple variety which originated as a limb mutation of the standard winter banana apple tree (non-patented) is provided. This new apple variety possesses a vigorous compact and only slightly spreading growth habit and can be distinguished from its parent and the Housden spur type winter banana apple variety (non-patented). More specifically, the new variety forms more fruiting spurs per unit length on two and three year old wood than the standard winter banana apple tree and less spurs per unit length than the Housden spur type winter banana apple tree. Additionally, the new variety has the ability to heavily bear fruit having a whitish-yellow skin color with a sometimes slight scarlet red blush upon maturity which is substantially identical to that of the standard winter banana apple tree and which has substantially less skin russeting than the Housden spur type winter banana apple tree.

I claim: 
     
       1. A new and distinct variety of winter banana apple tree, substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by (a) a vigorous compact upright growth habit with only a slightly spreading tendency, (b) the ability to heavily bear fruit having a whitish-yellow skin color upon maturity which is substantially identical to that of the standard winter banana apple tree and which has substantially less skin russeting than the fruit of the Housden spur type winter banana apple tree, (c) the ability to form large long green leaves, and (d) the propensity to form more fruit spurs per unit length of two and three year old wood than the standard winter banana apple tree and less spurs per unit length of two and three year old wood than the Housden spur type winter banana apple tree.