An evaluation of 'Melrose' strains and selections

Trees produced from irradiated 'Melrose' scion wood were selected For impro ved fruit color and yield. These selections were compared to improved comme rcial color strains from France and experimental selections from England an d a mutation from a commercial orchard. After 10 years, none of the selecti ons differed from standard 'Melrose' in tree size or yield. Fruit color of standard 'Melrose' declined during the study and several irradiated selecti ons and the strains from France and England had a higher percentage of red fruit surface. 'Dugast' and 'Melrouge' had consistently well colored fruit with darker and more intense red than standard 'Melrose' and are recommende d for future plantings of 'Melrose.'