Cripps Pink Mutations and their role in fruit quality Garry Langford IP Division Manager Apple and Pear Australia Limited Pink Lady® Apples © Copyright 2012

The issue, in Chile 2015, the WAPA forecast is…. 167,000 tonnes of fruit will be picked from Cripps Pink trees 60,000 tonne of this will be sold as PINK LADY 107,000 tonne sold as something else Around half of this (say 55,000 tonnes) may be sold as Cripps Pink fresh apples Because of Internal Browning the remainder is likely to be sold for juice, Other processing If this is correct, the packout of PINK LADY apples is about 36% - NOT SUSTAINABLE, is there an Answer? Pink Lady® Apples © Copyright 2008

Yes! Improved selections of varieties have been a key part of the development process in the global apple industry for a very long time. The Cripps Pink variety has created a number of new mutations CPM’s Pink Lady® Apples © Copyright 2008

How does a CPM become approved as a source of PINK LADY apples? Pink Lady® Apples © Copyright 2008 In consultation with IPLA, APAL has set criteria that a Cripps Pink Mutation (CPM) must meet in order to be granted the use of the PINK LADY trademarks, they include: 1. The variety is a mutation of Cripps Pink if its proven to be a variety distinct from Cripps Pink – by obtaining a grant of Plant Breeders Rights (or Plant Variety Rights). 2. That the flavour, texture, juiciness etc. of apples of the CPM are equivalent to that of Cripps Pink apples and that this is demonstrated by properly executed consumer evaluation experiments. APAL then enters into a Variety Management Deed with the licensee for the CPM in the territory.

Why do we do these tests? Pink Lady® Apples © Copyright 2008 We want to be sure that: the new variety is distinct from, and different to, Cripps Pink and that its adds some pomological benefits to growers; We want to ensure that the new variety maintains the eating quality of Cripps Pink, i.e. that there is no drift in flavour and texture with the new varieties. What else is achieved by introducing the CPMs to commerce? In licencing a CPM variety the right to use the PINK LADY® trademarks in a territory, we are also able to: introduce planting disciplines related to the volume of fruit to which the trade marks are applied in the territory; require growers to pack all fruit of the variety that complies with the PINK LADY quality standards as PINK LADY®

The Cripps Pink Mutation (CPM) varieties: Pink Lady® Apples © Copyright 2008 In Chile, three CPM Varieties are likely to become approved sources of PINK LADY apples. They are: Rosy Glow: Currently available in Chile via the Andes Nurseries Association nurseries. Lady in Red: Not yet available in Chile but coming… Ruby Pink: Not yet available in Chile but coming…

The CPM varieties provide advantages, a BIG difference… Pink Lady® Apples © Copyright 2008 Rosy GlowCripps Pink

What benefit can the CPM provide to growers? Long periods of warmer weather close to harvest usually result in lower colour development, the APAL approved CPM’s in general develop colour earlier. Provides growers with a greater ability to pick the crop in line with the PINK LADY® quality specifications. Increased packout of fruit that meets the quality specifications should result in higher returns to growers. Pink Lady® Apples © Copyright 2008

Possible grower strategies to maximise CPM opportunity Research is clearly showing that fruit picked at optimum maturity is likely to have less storage issues Orchard managers could be incentivised to produce the crop to meet the PINK LADY® quality specifications by; Providing a monetary reward for fruit harvested at optimum maturity. Pink Lady® Apples © Copyright 2008

CPM strategy cont…/ Pink Lady® Apples © Copyright 2008 Harvest to focus only on picking fruit that meets the PINK LADY® quality specifications. The example below is used in New Zealand This systems provides a strong incentive to grow the crop to meet the PL specs

Pink Lady® Apples © Copyright 2008 Current status: CPM, Rosy Glow

Pink Lady® Apples © Copyright 2008 Current status: Lady in Red, Ruby Pink Note: APAL will not dictate which CPM a grower uses. This is a commercial decision made by the grower based on the options available in the territory.

Pink Lady® Apples © Copyright 2008 CPMs that have not been accepted by APAL

Pink Lady® Apples © Copyright 2008 In Summary: The new CPM varieties: Will likely colour to allow fruit to be picked at the optimal maturity for the storage, shipping and distribution chain the fruit will undergo. This means that using CPM varieties will; Allow 60% of the crop to be harvested in the first two picks – within the optimal harvest window Potentially allow orchard owners to offer their managers: incentives for achieving harvest within the desired window