'Excellent-Star' is an Elstar mutant. This mutant was found in 1986 in the Orchards of W.L.A. Boerekamp in Someren - The Netherlands. 'Excellent-Star' is a very good tasting, bright- till dark red, even colouring Elstar. Plant breeders rights for 'Excellent-Star' have been claimed on april the first in 1997.

Growth:
'Excellent-Star' originates from the virusfree standard Elstar. Its vegetative faculty is comparible with that of the virusfree standard Elstar. The habit of the trees leans to somewhat spur-like. The trees ramify well and form hght till moderate heavy, rising branches. Especially the two year old branches are short indented. 'Excellent-Star has less long shoots than the standard Elstar has.

Virusstate:
'Excellent-Star' participates since 1996 in the virusproject of the Naktuinbouw, up till now no viruses have been found. In all probability it will obtain the state virusfree in a few years.

Blossom:
Blossom time, furtility and flower colour are the same as those of Elstar.

Picking time:
The pretty red coloured fruits are about one week after the first picking of standard Elstar in the picking ripe stage (in the middle of September). Contrary to standard Elstar 'Excellent-Star' can be picked for 85 till 95% in one time.

Productivity:
The productivity of 'Excellent-Star' is comparible with that of standard Elstar and Red Elstar.

Appearance:
The fruit of 'Excellent-Star' all colour in the beginning of September even bright-till dark red, without any stripes or chimaerae, also the ones that are hanging at the hart of the tree. In practice there haven't been any problems with coarsening, aIso not in 1998 when there were everywhere problems with coarsening on EIstar. Up to the heart of the tree the apples have 50-80% blush on a green background. The fruit don't get greasy, even not when they are overripe.

Taste:
In private selling 'Excellent-Star' is obvious very much appreciated. In early exploratory measures it is evident that the firmness of 'Excellent-Star' is about 0,4 kg/cm² higher than that of Red Elstar. And also that the sugar- and acidlevel are at the same level.

Fruitsize:
In practice it is obvious that the partition of 'Excellent-Star' over the different fruitsizes is as follows:
10% <60-70; 30% 70-75; 50% 75-85; 10% >85.

Storage:
'Excellent-Star' is fit for longtime storage.

Diseases and injuries:
The susceptibility of 'Excellent-Star' for diseases and injuries does not differ of that of standard Elstar.

Differences with Red Elstar:
Slightly earlier colouring, somewhat darker, a little later ripe for picking, and harder.

Obtention:
Trees of 'Excellent-Star' can only be obtained at van Rijn - de Bruyn B.V. Uden (The NetherLands)