Santana is a new variety of apple that combines resistance to disease with high quality fruit. The variety contains resistance against scab (locally broken), is hardly susceptible to fruit tree cancer but receptive to mildew. As it can be cultivated with significantly reduced fungicide use, Santana is therefore suitable for environmentally-friendly farming as well as being an important addition to the apple selection.
The fruit of the Santana are relatively large and have a somewhat striped light to dark red bloom on a yellow-green background. They are firm, juicy and refreshing and have a nice aroma. This gives the Santana a good taste and makes it an ideal eating apple. Using ULO-storage, the fruit can be kept until at least February. Santana was selected in 1978 and has Elstar in its pedigree. The variety is legally protected by plant breeders rights and under the trademark law.
| Productivity |
Good, similar to Elstar, little tendency to biennial bearing. |
| Growth |
Hardly any natural branching, reasonably firm, strong growth, less head and shoot growth than Elstar . |
| Flowering and pollination |
Flowers well but not excessively, a day before 'Golden Delicious'. Flowers, and therefore produces, mainly from two-year old wood. Cross-pollination recommended. Suitably resistant pollinators are resistant ornamental apples or one of the scab-resistant varieties such as 'Ecolette' Plant Research International (r). |
| Appearance |
Some striped light to dark red bloom on a yellow-green background. The fruit colours easily and is relatively large. |
| Harvesting |
For short storage periods a week after and for longer storage a week before Elstar. |
| Taste |
Firm, juicy and refreshing apple with a good aroma. |
| Storing ability |
Good, six months, can be stored in combination with Elstar and 'Jonagold'. Sensitive to discoloration of flesh when stored for long periods - keep carbon dioxide levels as low as possible and never higher than 3%. |
| Diseases and disorders |
Scab-resistant (Vf), hardly susceptible to fruit tree cancer, (very) susceptible to mildew (free from coarsening when fungicides are applied). |