Tamarillo plant named ‘Sweeten’
A new and distinct tamarillo variety is described. The variety results from selection among a population of seedlings derived from hybridization among red, amber, and yellow-fruited tamarillo selections. This new variety is characterized by bright red skin color and sweet flavor. The new variety appears suitable for the fresh fruit market and has been named ‘Sweeten’.
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Genus and species of plant claimed: Cyphomandra betacea.
Variety denomination: ‘Sweeten’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to a tamarillo (Cyphomandra betacea) tree bearing fruit suitable for the fresh fruit market.
The tree tomato, renamed the tamarillo in New Zealand around 1970, under cultivation produces an edible fruit, similar in size and shape to a hen egg. Generally believed to be native to the Andean region of Peru, and extending in range into Chile, Ecuador, and Bolivia, it is cultivated in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Grown in New Zealand both as a commercial crop and by amateur growers, seed is thought to have been first introduced in the late 1800's, obtained from a missionary in Ecuador. In the wild, the fruit is generally small, splotchy and yellow or pale red in color. Selection and improvement by nurserymen have resulted in large red-fruited strains. Golden cultivars, ranging yellow to amber in external coloration, have also been introduced.
The tamarillo is a member of the Solanaceae family. It is a subtropical rather than tropical plant, and while succeeding in cooler climates, does best where the temperature remains above 10° C. Tamarillos are rapidly growing trees which produce good crops after 18 months. They are frost tender, seedlings and cuttings being most vulnerable in their first year, more mature plants tending to recover after frost damage so long as it is not too severe or prolonged.
Fruit are highly attractive and are usually cut and eaten with a spoon. Some people find the skin astringent and flesh too acid to their taste. However, the flavor overall is sweet to sub-acid, and the pulp juicy. Tamarillos are considered a nutritious fruit containing good quantities of several important vitamins including A, B6, C and E, are rich in iron and potassium, low in sodium, and a good source of fibre. While an excellent fruit for fresh consumption it has a limited storage life, suffering from chilling injury and post-harvest pathogens if maintained below 5° C. for any sustained period of time. Fruit processes extremely well, especially as pulp, puree, and juice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe new variety was selected from a population of seedlings derived from conventional hybridization among unpatented red, amber, and yellow-fruited tamarillo germplasm available in New Zealand. The objective of the crossing program was to produce a variety with sweeter fruit than was typically available, and suitable for commercial fruit production. The new variety was selected in the 1993-94 fruiting season from among seedlings located on land controlled by the Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand Limited at Northland, New Zealand, and was assigned the breeder code, 4G3. The new variety has since been named ‘Sweeten’. The parents of the new variety are not known. The new variety differed from the possible parent varieties by having a combination of bright red fruit skin colour and sweet flavor.
The original selection was asexually propagated as hardwood cuttings over the next twelve years. Throughout this time the plants were observed to be true to the original parent plant. The characteristics of the new variety are stable and transmitted without change through succeeding generations.
The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the plant, foliage and fruit of the new variety as depicted in colors as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.
Horticultural terminology is used in accordance with UPOV guidelines. All dimensions in millimeters, weights in grams (unless otherwise stated). Where a color reference is given these refer to The R.H.S. Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London. 4th Edition, 2001. The specimens described were grown at Kerikeri, Northland, New Zealand.
Published environmental data relating to growing conditions for Northland, New Zealand is as follows (based on mean annual values 1971-2000):
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- • Rainfall 1671 mm
- • Sunshine hours 1964
- • Ground frost 12 days
- • Heat units 1912 degree days
Plant and foliage: A small semi-woody, evergreen, tree with a short stem with a crown of divergent branches. The plant exhibits an overall upright growth habit with medium vigor (
Leaves are overall large, ranging in dimension depending on the maturity of the individual; mature, fully expanded, leaf width averages in the range 225 mm to 322 mm, while length of the same leaves averages 330 mm to 440 mm (
Inflorescence: White flowers are borne on trusses (a multi-flowered inflorescence) (
Fruit: Fruit is typically borne singly, or in clusters of 3-12; fruit hang pendently in the tree (
Harvest and yield: Trees typically commence to crop within 18 months from planting. At physiological maturity, and under commercial production management, the annual yield per tree is about 20-30 kg. Fruits ripen progressively, and are harvested by selective hand picking of the most mature. Typically fruit reaches physiological maturity about 21 weeks from pollination. While fruit are overall firm, a slightly softening is detectible as fruit reach harvest maturity, and further softening occurs prior to being eating ready. The tough skin and firm flesh allow the fruit to be easily handled for post-harvest sorting and packing; the fruit also ships well, although storage life is short. Fruit commences ripening in early autumn (late March, early April) in Northland, New Zealand. Fruit continue to ripen and are able to be harvested through the autumn and winter months until spring (mid October). It is not uncommon for trees to bear immature and mature fruit as well as flowers, simultaneously.
Pest and disease resistance: Tamarillo trees are easily infected with tamarillo mosaic virus, which results in production of blotchy, streaked unattractive fruit, and, leaf mottling. Resistance to insect pests is unknown. The most common insect pest effecting tamarillo in New Zealand is Whitefly (most likely Trialeurodes vaporariorum).
Geographical adaptation: Observations indicate that the variety is suitable for warmer regions. ‘Sweeten’ performs well in the warm temperate climate of the Northland and Bay of Plenty regions, New Zealand. Based on this experience indications are that ‘Sweeten’ would also perform well in USDA plants hardiness zones 9-10 (published as the 2003 US National Arboretum “Web Version” of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map USDA Miscellaneous Publication No. 1475, Issued January 1990).
Cultivation: Protection from wind is advisable as the plant is shallow-rooted and the branches somewhat brittle especially under full crop load. The plant does best in light, fertile soils, although is reputedly able to withstand some soil compaction. Drainage is essential as the plant does not withstand even short durations of water-logging. Annual pruning is advisable to encourage new shoot, and hence fruiting wood, development and to maintain light interception within the canopy. Left unmodified, internal shading within the canopy will result in fruiting occurring only on the outermost branches and tips. Under cultivation the tree can have a productive life up to about 10 years.
Claims
1. A new and distinct tamarillo plant substantially as herein illustrated and described.
Type: Grant
Filed: Sep 9, 2008
Date of Patent: Sep 21, 2010
Patent Publication Number: 20100064398
Assignee: The Horticulture & Food Research Institute of New Zealand Limited (Auckland)
Inventor: Greg Pringle (Auckland)
Primary Examiner: Wendy C. Haas
Attorney: Greenlee Winner and Sullivan, P.C.
Application Number: 12/283,005
International Classification: A01H 5/00 (20060101);