Kidds Orange Red

New Zealand variety (Delicious × Cox's Orange Pippin), late autumn ripening. The variety was regionally approved and widely grown on the North Caucasus.

Trees are medium-sized, bushy when young, and spherical when fruiting. Branches are weakly curved, diverge from the trunk at a sharp angle, then gradually arch upward. Fruiting is concentrated on spurs, fruiting twigs, and few buds.

Shoots are slender, curved, gray-brown, heavily pubescent, with sparse small stipules; in nurseries, they are strongly curved and dark brown. Leaves are elongated, ovate, with a rounded base and tapered tip, medium-lobed, and in nurseries, spoon-shaped. Leaf margin is toothed or doubly toothed. Leaf forms a 90° angle with the stem, densely pubescent, dark green, glossy. Petiole is thin and long, with narrow lanceolate stipules.

Fruits (see photo) are large, moderately flattened, round-conical with a broad base. Often asymmetrical, smooth, large. Main fruit color in harvest maturity is greenish, with an extensive blush of orange-red stripes; in storage, it becomes golden-yellow, with a more vivid blush. Skin is thick and rough, with numerous green spots and rusty subcutaneous spots. Peduncle is short and slender, within the calyx cup. Calyx cup is small, narrow, with gently curved edges. Calyx is closed, cup is wide and deep, with rusty, feather-like spots extending beyond its boundaries.

Flesh is greenish-yellow or brownish, sweet candy-like flavor with a spicy aroma. Chemical composition of fruits: dry matter — 12.5%, sugars — 9–13%, titratable acids — 0.6%, ascorbic acid — 5–9 mg/100g, P-active substances — 110–150 mg/100g fresh weight.

Fruits are harvested at the end of August and are ready for consumption. They keep in refrigerators until January. Transportability is good.

Early, high yield, up to 300 centners per hectare. Winter and drought resistance in southern conditions are good. Moderately resistant to scab and brown spot.

Advantages of the variety: early fruiting, high yield, moderate tree growth, high flavor and commercial fruit quality.

Disadvantages of the variety: moderately susceptible to fungal diseases.

Used in breeding as a carrier of good fruit quality traits.