Cultivar 322: Brightness

Brightness is a prairie apple from a Columbia x Wealthy cross. It was released in 1959 by Dr. C. F. Patterson at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. [S1] [S2] [S3] [S4] It was selected as a small to medium bright red apple for dessert or dual use, with strong visual appeal, and was part of the University of Saskatchewan's early fruit introduction work. [S1] [S3] [S4]

Sources agree on the parentage and the 1959 introduction date. [S1] [S2] [S3] [S4] The University of Saskatchewan introduction list gives the selection number A58-320 and also shows A58-332 as an alternate number. [S4] Patterson's 1960 introduction notes describe it at Saskatoon under non irrigated field conditions, which gives the clearest setting for how the fruit was evaluated. [S3] [S4]

Sources consistently describe the fruit as bright red. One calls it bright glossy red, and another calls it full bright red and attractive. [S1] [S3] [S4] Size descriptions vary. Some sources say the fruit is about 4 cm across. The Saskatchewan introduction sheet reports fruit up to 2 1/2 inches in diameter, while a later note gives a maximum of 1 3/4 inches and calls it a large crabapple type. [S1] [S3] [S4] The shape is broadly conical. The flesh is white and coarse. [S3] [S4] Flavor descriptions also vary. One source says acid, while another says very mildly sub acid with a pleasing flavour. [S1] [S3] [S4]

The season is not consistent across sources. One table lists it as early, another places it in early September, and a later index table calls it late. [S1] [S3] [S4] It was listed for fresh use in the prairie cultivar index, though the mixed flavor notes and fair quality comments suggest it sat between fresh use and utility use rather than standing out as a high dessert apple. [S3] [S4] Keeping quality is described only as fair. [S3] [S4]

Brightness was noted as a good or heavy yielder. [S1] [S3] [S4] The Saskatoon introduction sheet gives the clearest growing context because its fruit description came from field conditions without irrigation. [S4] One source also says the flesh browns easily or quickly after cutting. [S1] [S3]

No direct hardiness zone statement is given here, but Brightness was part of a University of Saskatchewan apple introduction program and was described from Saskatoon field conditions, placing it in a prairie cold climate testing context. [S2] [S3] [S4] In the broader archive, it is part of the Columbia x Wealthy branch of prairie apple breeding and should be read as a distinct introduction, not as a later breeding parent or derivative record. [S1] [S2] [S3] [S4]

Summary source basis

• S1: Edible Apples in Prairie Canada
• S2: An index of fruit cultivars tested or developed on the Canadian prairies.
• S3: Brightness
• S4: University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960

This summary currently draws chiefly from Edible Apples in Prairie Canada, with 3 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

“It is described as early, with coarse flesh that browns easily or quickly.”
— ^[5]

“Maturity is late.”
— ^[4]

“Fair quality.”
— ^[1]

“Early.”
— ^[1]

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• Parentage given as Columbia x Wealthy.
• 'Columbia' x 'Wealthy'.
• Parentage: Columbia x Wealthy.
• Listed as Columbia x Wealthy.

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Source-story quotations

• A58-320 (A58-332) Brightness Columbia x Wealthy 1959 Season, early Sept., bright glossy red; broadly conicalUniversity of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p3
• A58-320 (A58-332) Brightness Columbia x Wealthy 1959 Season, early Sept., bright glossy red; broadly conicalUniversity of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p3
• Brightness (Columbia X Wealthy) Patterson intro 1959 Fruit about 4cm, bright red. Early.Edible Apples in Prairie Canada, p19
• Brightness (Columbia X Wealthy) Patterson intro 1959 Fruit about 4cm, bright red. Early.Edible Apples in Prairie Canada, p19

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context