Claris Corp., Apple Computer Inc.'s software operation, will become a wholly owned, independent subsidiary of the personal-computer maker, Apple Chairman John A. Sculley announced today.

Claris develops and markets software for Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple's popular Macintosh and Apple II computers. It has been a majority-owned subsidiary of Apple since April, 1987, when Apple spun off its applications software operations to form Claris.

At the time, Apple said it retained the option of turning Claris into a publicly owned company or returning the subsidiary to full Apple ownership.

"Software will increasingly become the factor which shapes competitive advantage in the 1990s," Sculley said. "With that in mind, we have established a new, expanded role for Claris, which will become an important foundation for Apple in the future."