bred by Dr. Jaroslav Tupý of the Institute of Experimental Botany Prague.

‘UEB 32642’ is a natural bred apple variety, crossed between ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Topaz’. It has received the status of a protected apple variety under the European Plant Patent Law, EU 16749 on 30.01.2006. ‘UEB 32642’ has a mild-subacid, full flavoured, sweet, firm and yellow to yellow-orange coloured apple with Vf resistance to apple scab, tolerance to powdery mildew, robustness against fireblight and none physiological disorders during storage. The apple is commercialized and sold under the OPAL® brand under license.

After several years of preparation 4’000 virusfree, 2-year old trees of ‘UEB 32642’ have been planted in various experimental variety evaluation blocks across Europe from Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Spain, France to England, the Netherlands, Germany to Belgium.

In 2008 and 2009 best performing apple growing areas will be identified to look for the best growing conditions of the ‘UEB 32642’ variety in Europe. According to these results and talks to leading growers, grower organizations and marketers, the business structure of partners will be organized circumnavigating the OPAL® brand concept.

Variety Informations of ‘UEB 32642’

a cross between ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Topaz’. It is protected by Community Plant Variety Rights EU 16749 from 30.01.2006 and by United States patent PP 15,963 from 13.09.2005 under the ‘UEB 32642’ variety name.

Tree: Diploid, moderately vigorous, spreading, branching dense, fruiting spurs medium to short

Blossom: Mid-season, slightly before Golden Delicious, flowers heavily with slight alternanz

Picking time: Early October, together with Golden Delicious, only slight fruit thinning appears to be required, eating maturity 3 weeks after picking

Productivity: Similar to Golden Delicious

Storeability: In natural storage until April

Fruit: Medium, round-conical, height:width ratio 0.90, ribbing very weak, stem medium, russet in stem cavity, can radiate to side of fruit, skin color yellow to yellow-orange, flesh yellow, firm, fine to medium grained, medium juicy, full flavored, sweet (15.2 % Brix), mild-subacid, very good

Diseases: Resistant to scab (Vf ), tolerant to powdery mildew, robustness to fireblight and none physiological disorders in storage.

Comment: Requires rather an intensive growing system and environmental conditions similar to ‘Golden Delicious’, prefers sunny, dry, wine growing areas with irrigation