Redgem

Orig. in Corvallis, Ore., by F.J. Lawrence, M.M. Stahler, P.P. Moore, L.W. Martin, G.W. Varseveld, and W.A. Sheets; released jointly by U.S. Dept. of Agriculture-Agr. Res. Service, Oregon State Univ., and Washington State Univ. Benton × ORUS 3596 (Earlibelle × ORUS 2853); selected in 1972; tested as ORUS 4459; introd. in 1993. <b>Fruit:</b> smaller and less firm than Totem; uniform, blunt conic; bright, uniform red external and light-red internal color; calyx nonreflexed and easy to remove; mid-late ripening season; slightly more susceptible to preharvest botrytis rot than Totem; good flavor; local fresh-market and processing, especially individual quick-frozen, uses; suited to machine harvesting. <b>Plant:</b> yield similar to Totem or slightly less; vigorous; abundant runners; peduncle moderately erect; flowers remain in canopy. Moderately susceptible to powdery mildew; resistance to red stele similar to Totem; some tolerance to the aphidborne virus complex in the Pacific Northwest.