AKERO

Origin / History

AKERO is of probable Swedish origin. It is listed in Svensk Pomologi (p. 15), where it appears under the alternate designations Akera and Okera. USDA Plant Introduction number 104776 was received from Sweden in 1934; an additional accession of the same PI number was subsequently received from Glenn Dale, Maryland. Bunyard (1920) notes that AKERO "is now rarely grown, but is of interest only from its remarkable coloration."

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Tree

Growth habit and vigor: Growth is moderate; fertility is moderate (Bunyard).

Leaf: Rather large, upward folded, much twisted, coarsely crenate (Bunyard).

Ploidy: Diploid (Fisher, 1963).

Bark, twigs, lenticels, buds: Not described in source.

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Fruit

Size and Form

Sources give slightly differing measurements. Bunyard (1920) describes the fruit as medium, measuring 2½ inches by 2¼ inches, and conical in shape. Fisher (1963) describes the fruit as medium-sized (2 inches) and round-oblate in shape. The two sources thus disagree on both dimensions and form — Bunyard recording a taller, conical fruit and Fisher a flatter, oblate one; this likely reflects clonal or selection differences between the Swedish and North American accessions.

Stem

Not described in source.

Cavity

Not described in source.

Calyx

Not described in source.

Basin

Not described in source.

Skin

Pale creamy yellow ground color, with a crimson, peach-like flush and bloom (Bunyard). Fisher (1963) records 70% pink stripe.

Flesh and Flavor

The flesh is white and firm. Bunyard (1920) describes it as juicy. Fisher (1963) describes it as subacid. Fisher further notes that ripening is uneven during September.

Core and Seeds

Not described in source.

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Season

September to October (Bunyard). Fisher (1963) gives ripening during September, noting that the fruit ripens unevenly.

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Uses

Dessert (Bunyard). Good processing quality (Fisher, 1963).

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Storage

Not described in source.

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Hardiness

Very hardy (Fisher, 1963).

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Subtypes / Variants

AKERO (USDA PI 104776) was reported by the Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Pomology, Geneva, New York. A separate report of the same accession came from the Agricultural Experiment Station, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana, with the comment: positive on R12740-7A (Fisher, 1963).

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Other

AKERO is cited in Svensk Pomologi, p. 15. The variety is noted by Bunyard as being of interest primarily for its "remarkable coloration" — the peach-like crimson flush and bloom on a creamy yellow ground.