Australian researchers from the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI) have developed a new apple variety with significant shelf life and disease resistance, reported local media.
The RS103-130 apple will stay crisp for 14 days at room temperature, and many months if kept in the fridge or cold storage, reported the Courier Mail.
Queensland’s state government is looking for partners to commercialise the new apple, explained Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin.
“This new variety is sweet…it ticks the other boxes too because it is disease resistant so requires few or no fungicides,” he said.
“Initial taste tests have been outstanding. Out of the five apple types tasted, the new variety scored the highest - even better than the Pink Lady.”
The Queensland DPI said the apple averages a Brix score of 15.7, giving it a mild, sweet, low-acid flavour.
RS103-130 is resistant to the apple scab disease, also known as black spot, which Mr Mulherin said costs the Australian apple industry A$10m a year. As a result, the apple is likely to be marketed for organic production.
“There is a huge demand from growers to find a disease-resistant variety that requires few or no fungicides,” he said.
The variety is a glossy red on a yellow-green background, and ripens around the same time as common varieties like Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Fuji and Braeburn.
