Canopy is a green, juicy and very crisp apple variety from the IFO breeding programme. With a level of acidity comparable to Granny Smith, it has a higher sugar content and better flavours: it will not disappoint consumers who like green apples, and it may appeal to those who find Granny too tart or bland.
Canopy trees have an open habit which is easier to manage in the orchard than Granny Smith, especially for an orchard with narrow fruit walls. Fruit-set is also faster than Granny Smith. Productivity is good and regular, and its blossom and picking dates are very similar to those of Granny Smith. Its susceptibility to pink blush is equal to or even lower than Granny Smith, under conditions in the Loire Valley, France.
With the gene Rvi6 (Vf) for scab tolerance, Canopy offers a real solution to the green apple market.
Providing an ideal solution for pollinating apple orchards (organic or orchards with scab resistant varieties), Canopy can replace Malus as well as Granny Smith.
Valérie Fouillet, manager of breeding and selection at IFO, explained: “Canopy was bred in 2004 as part of a programme aiming to find green varieties carrying the Rvi6 gene. The variety was found among a few hybrids after four years of observation, and as the selection process progressed, Canopy proved to be a better alternative to Granny [Smith], especially for its good agronomic behaviour and eating qualities. Its potential was then confirmed through the numerous trials planted in Europe.”
Jean-Sébastien Berger, Dalival’s sales manager, added: “To date, there are few green, disease-resistant varieties on the market. Canopy will therefore be able to meet a real demand from growers and consumers. For this reason, we have decided to make this variety available to as many fruit growers as possible in a very wide area.
