Origin: in West Lafayette, Ind., by a cooperative breeding program consisting of the Agr. Expt. Sta. of Indiana (J. Janick, F.H. Emerson, P.C. Pecknold, and J.A. Crosby) and Illinois (S.S. Korban and D.F. Dayton). Introd. in 1987. USPP 6268; 6 Sept. 1988; assigned to Purdue Research Foundation, West Lafayette, Ind. PRI 1018 × NJ50; cross made in 1973; a sixth-generation derivative of C.S. Crandall’s Rome × M. floribunda 821 sib cross. Pedigree includes Mollie’s Delicious, Julyred, Jonathan, Melba, Red Rome, Wealthy, and Starr. Selected in 1979 by E.B. Williams; named in his honor, tested as PRI 2845-1 and as Co-op 23. Tree: vigorous, spreading; moderately heavy cropping; annual bearer; fruit hang well to tree after ripe; extended bloom period from very early to late midseason; frost killing of blossoms less severe than Delicious, Jonathan, and Golden Delicious; immune to apple scab, apparently resistant to cedar apple rust, and moderately resistant to fire blight and powdery mildew; only slightly predisposed to bitter pit and water core. Fruit: mediumlarge, 74 mm in diam.; oblate to round, uniform shapes; skin ground color sap green, overcolor darkens to 90% ruby red, smooth, slightly waxy, no russeting; flesh light cream-colored, medium-grained, firm, crisp and juicy; flavor moderately subacid, slightly spicy, rich; quality excellent for the season; when stored at lC quality and texture are retained 6 weeks; a summer dessert apple, ripens 7 to 8 weeks before Delicious; requires more than one picking.
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