[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: [nafex] Apple breeding



Doug:

Re: Malinda

	My understanding is that when the Minnesota breeding program began at 
the Fruit Breeding Farm south of Excelsior in 1908 (now the U of MN 
Horticultural Research Center), they needed a source of apple seed.  It 
was as much by chance as devise that Malinda was the choice, as there 
happened to be an orchard nearby with a lot of Malinda trees. And it's 
interesting to me that an apple considered by most to be mediocre and 
selected arbitrarily produced such a number of superior offspring. At 
least ten of Minnesota's introductions have Malinda in the parentage 
including, of course, Sweet Sixteen, Keepsake, Chestnut, Haralson, 
Honeygold and Honeycrisp.  By the way, as you know Sweet Sixteen is 
frequently mentioned for its unique combination of flavors.  I've been 
told that MN 447, one of Sweet 16's parents and itself an offspring of 
Malinda, has that same taste only more so.

John Bunker