Mutsu
Apple
Mutsu
Origin / History
Japanese hybrid originating in 1930 from a cross of Golden Delicious x Indo (Zielinski, 1964). Introduced in Japan in 1948; resembles somewhat its Golden Delicious parent (Way, 1979). Zielinski, writing of it as new, reports considerable interest in the eastern states because of its size, production, quality, and fruit finish.
Tree
Triploid; pollen not viable. Branch crotches wide and strong. Trees bear young and heavily, and more annually than Golden Delicious (Way).
In Oregon, where good Golden Delicious can be produced, growers will find Mutsu undesirable (Zielinski). A variety of interest only in areas where russetting and poor finish are problems, and so of some interest only in some sections of northwestern Oregon.
Fruit
Size: Large (Way); larger than Golden Delicious (Zielinski).
Form: Not described in source.
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Yellow-green. On trees of very high nitrogen status fruits are often still green at the time of early fall freezes; fruits harvested green develop satisfactory yellowing after a few months in storage. Fruits from low-nitrogen trees are yellow at harvest. Slower than Golden Delicious to attain an attractive yellow color (Zielinski). Less russet than Golden Delicious (Way).
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Texture generally slightly coarser than Golden Delicious. Eating quality "very good"; blindfolded taste testers could not distinguish Mutsu from Golden Delicious, the eating qualities being so very similar (Way). In Oregon, quality not generally considered as high as that of Golden Delicious, the flesh coarser and less flavorful (Zielinski).
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Ripens somewhat later than Golden Delicious if the trees have a very high nitrogen status. Storage life longer than that of Rome or Delicious. Less storage shrivel than Golden Delicious; no scald or bitter pit.
Uses
Excellent, equal to Golden Delicious, for processing into sauce and slices (laboratory tests, Way). Way recommends it for planting in substantial quantities for processing; it may not successfully compete on the fresh market against large, deep yellow Golden Delicious.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— Quentin B. Zielinski, Apple Varieties for Oregon (1964)Mutsu†
This is a new Japanese hybrid originating in 1930 from a cross of Golden Delicious x Indo. It is attracting considerable interest in the eastern states because of its size, production, quality, and fruit finish. In Oregon, where good Golden Delicious can be produced, growers will find Mutsu undesirable since the quality is not generally considered as high, the fruit is larger in size, the flesh is coarser and less flavorful, and it is slower to attain an attractive yellow color. It appears to be a variety of interest only in areas where russetting and poor finish are problems. Hence, it may be of some interest only to apple growers in some sections of northwestern Oregon.
— Roger D. Way, Apple Varieties Grown in New York State (1979)
- Mutsu has large yellow-green fruits. It was introduced in Japan in 1948 and resembles somewhat its Golden Delicious parent. It ripens somewhat later than Golden Delicious if the trees have a very high nitrogen status; fruits are often still green at the time of early fall freezes. Fruits harvested green will develop satisfactory yellowing after a few months in storage. Fruits from low nitrogen trees are yellow at harvest. The eating quality is very good. Blindfolded taste testers could not distinguish Mutsu from Golden Delicious, their eating qualities being so very similar. However, the texture of Mutsu flesh is generally slightly coarser. Laboratory tests show that Mutsu is excellent, equal to Golden Delicious, for processing into sauce and slices. Trees bear young and heavily and more annually than Golden Delicious. Branch crotches are wide and strong. Mutsu is triploid; the pollen is not viable. It has less skin russet and storage shrivel than Golden Delicious and no scald or bitter pit. Storage life is longer than that of Rome or Delicious. Mutsu is recommended for planting in substantial quantities for processing. It may not successfully compete on the fresh market against large, deep yellow Golden Delicious.