Plum tree named ‘Plumsweet XXII’

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plum tree, Prunus salicina, and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a large size, vigorous, hardy, and productive tree. Being self-unfruitful, the present variety requires cross pollination from an apricot, interspecific, or plum that blooms during the mid season, such as ‘Plumsweet X’ interspecific tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,528). The present variety produces a moderate amount of flowers that produce an abundance of pollen to entice good bee activity to facilitate pollination. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described during late June, with first picking on Jun. 26, 2019. The fruit is uniformly medium in size, a red and green two-tone in skin color, almost full red in flesh color, freestone in type, globose to heart shaped, firm in texture, juicy, very sweet, and excellent in flavor.

Description

Botanical classification: Prunus salicina.

Varietal denomination: ‘PLUMSWEET XXII’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, we, the inventors, typically hybridize a large number of peach, nectarine, plum, apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. We also grow a lesser number of open pollinated seeds of each of these fruits. The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of plum tree which has been denominated varietally as ‘Plumsweet XXII’.

During a typical blooming season we isolate as seed parents both individual and groups of different plum and interspecific trees by covering them with screen houses. A hive of bees is placed inside each such house, and bouquets to provide pollen from different plum, apricot, and interspecific hybrid trees are placed in buckets near the trees approximately every two days for the duration of the bloom. During 2011 one such house containing ‘Yellowsweet II’ interspecific tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,518) was crossed by us in this manner. To pollinate this interspecific tree, we selected bouquets from several sources of plum trees without keeping specific written details. Upon reaching maturity the fruit from this interspecific tree was harvested, and the seeds were removed, cracked, stratified and germinated as a group with the label “H3”. They were grown as seedlings on their own root in our greenhouse and upon reaching dormancy transplanted to a cultivated area of our experimental orchard located near Le Grand, Calif. in Merced County (San Joaquin Valley). During the summer of 2014 the claimed variety was selected by us as a single plant from the group of seedlings described above. Subsequent to origination of the present variety of plum tree, we asexually reproduced it by budding and grafting in the experimental orchard described above, and such reproduction of plant and fruit characteristics were true to the original tree in all respects. The reproduction of the variety included the use of ‘Nemaguard’ (unpatented) rootstock upon which the present variety was compatible and true to type.

The present variety is similar to its seed parent ‘Yellowsweet II’ interspecific tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,518), by being self-unfruitful and by producing fruit that is firm and very sweet, but is quite distinguished therefrom by producing fruit that is red instead of yellow in flesh color, that is a red and greenish yellow two-tone instead of purely yellow in skin color, and that ripens about three weeks earlier.

The present variety is most similar to ‘Plumsweet XI’ interspecific tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,796), by being self-unfruitful and by producing fruit that is a red and greenish yellow two-tone with freckles in skin color, firm in texture, juicy, very sweet, and excellent in flavor, but is distinguished therefrom by blooming in the mid instead of early season and by producing fruit that is globose to heart shaped instead of oblate, completely red and pink in flesh color instead of red and yellow, freestone instead of clingstone in type, and that matures about 5 days earlier.

SUMMARY OF VARIETY

The present plum variety is characterized by a large size, vigorous, hardy, and productive tree. Being self-unfruitful, the present variety requires cross pollination from an apricot, interspecific, or plum that blooms during the mid season, such as ‘Plumsweet X’ interspecific tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,528). The present variety produces a moderate amount of flowers that produce an abundance of pollen to entice good bee activity to facilitate pollination. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described during late June, with first picking on Jun. 26, 2019. The fruit is uniformly medium in size, a red and green two-tone in skin color, almost full red in flesh color, freestone in type, globose to heart shaped, firm in texture, juicy, very sweet, and excellent in flavor.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph consists of four whole fruits positioned to display the characteristics of the skin color and form, one divided fruit to reveal the flesh and stone, a tip shoot growth, typical leaves, and two insets depicting the flower buds and blossoms as they appeared on the tree during the blooming season.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics of this new and distinct variety of plum tree, the following has been observed under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand, Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif. The fruit description was developed at the state of firm ripe on Jul. 10, 2019, on the original tree during its eighth growing season. The flower and bud descriptions were developed during the previous blooming season. All major color code designations are by reference to the Inter-Society Color Council, National Bureau of Standards. Common color names are also used occasionally.

PARENTAGE

• Seed parent: Yellowsweet II (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,518) interspecific tree.
• Pollen parent: Unknown plum.

TREE

• Size: Large, reaching and maintaining a height of 14′ [4.27 m.] and a spread of 10′ [3.05 m.] after eight growing seasons utilizing typical dormant pruning.
• Vigor: Vigorous, responding typically to irrigation and fertilization. The variety grows about 4′ [1.22 m.] of surplus top-growth during the spring and summer. The plant should be grown on a standard commercial rootstock for production purposes.
• Growth: Upright and dense.
• Form: Pruned to a vase form.
• Hardiness: Hardy with respect to central California winters.
• Heat tolerance: Observed to perform adequately in typical central California climatic conditions, which typically include extended periods of heat.
• Drought tolerance: Variety is developed for commercial orchards and requires regular irrigation.
• Production: Productive, thinning usually necessary.
• Fertility: Self-unfruitful, requiring cross pollination by a suitable early seasonal blooming apricot, interspecific, or plum, such as ‘Plumsweet X’ interspecific tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,528).
• Bearing: Regular bearer, weather dependent, no crop failures observed as of yet.
• Trunk:
  • • Size.—Medium, reaching a maximum diameter of 3¾″ [95.3 mm.] after the eighth growing season.
    • Texture.—Moderately rough.
    • Bark color.—A Moderate yellowish brown [77. m.yBr] and Grayish yellowish brown [80. gy.yBr] variegation with Dark yellowish brown [78. d.yBr] crevices present.
    • Lenticels.—Approximate Number Per Square Inch: 14. Color: Light brown [57. l.Br]. Average Size: ¼″ [6.4 mm.] in length. The width is typically one fourth as much as the length. Shape: Elongated.
• Branches:
  • • Size.—Medium, scaffold diameter is 2½″ [63.5 mm.] measured 12″ above the crotch, limb diameter is 1¾″ [44.5 mm.] measured 12″ above the first fork.
    • Texture.—Medium on first and second year wood, increasing roughness with age.
    • Color.—1st Year Wood Topside: Grayish red [19. gy.R]. 1st Year Wood Underside: Strong yellow green [117. s.YG]. Older Wood: A Moderate yellowish brown [77. m.yBr] and Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr] variegation with Dark grayish yellowish brown [81. d.gy.yBr] crevices present.
    • Lenticels.—Number Per Square Inch: About 25 on second year wood. Color: Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr]. Average Size: Small, 1/32″ [0.8 mm.] in length. The width is typically one fourth as much as the length. Shape: Elongated.
• Leaves:
  • • Size.—Medium to large. Average Length: 4″ [101.6 mm.]. Average Width: 1⅞″ [47.6 mm.].
    • Arrangement.—Alternate.
    • Thickness.—Medium.
    • Form.—Elliptical.
    • Apex.—Acuminate.
    • Base.—Acute with an average base angle of 70 degrees.
    • Surface.—Smooth.
    • Color.—Dorsal Surface: Moderate olive green [125. m.OlG]. Ventral Surface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].
    • Margin.—Finely serrate.
    • Venation.—Pinnately net veined.
    • Petiole.—Average Length: ⅝″ [15.9 mm.]. Average Thickness: 1/16″ [1.6mm.]. Color: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG] with some Grayish red [19. gy.R] areas where exposed toward the sun.
    • Stipules.—Number: Mostly 2 per leaf, up to 6 per growing tip. Average Length: ¼″ [6.4 mm.]. Color: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG] becoming Light olive brown [94. l.OlBr] with age.
    • Glands.—Number: Mostly 2 per leaf. Position: Alternate, positioned at the intersection of the petiole and base of leaf blade. Form: Globose. Size: Small to medium, 1/32″ [0.8 mm.] in diameter. Color: Strong yellow green [117. s.YG] becoming Moderate reddish brown [43. m.rBr] in the center with age. Leaf buds: Pointed.
• Flower buds:
  • • Hardiness.—Hardy, with respect to central California blooming season.
    • Diameter.—Typically 3/16″ [4.8 mm.] 1 week before bloom.
    • Length.—Typically ⅜″ [9.5 mm.] 1 week before bloom.
    • Form.—Free, not touching.
    • Surface.—Slightly pubescent.
    • Tip color.—White [263. White].
• Flowers: Perfect, complete, perigynous, usually a single pistil, about thirty stamens, five sepals and petal locations alternately positioned.
  • • Average flower diameter.—1⅛″ [28.6 mm.].
    • Average flower depth.—⅜″ [9.5 mm.] when fully open.
    • Number of petals.—Five, no double blossoms observed.
    • Petal shape.—Oval.
    • Petal margin.—Entire, somewhat wavy.
    • Petal arrangement.—Overlapping.
    • Average petal diameter.— 9/16″ [14.3 mm.].
    • Average petal length.—⅝″ [15.9 mm.].
    • Petal apex.—Rounded.
    • Petal base.—Obtuse.
    • Petal color.—White [263. White] on both sides.
    • Anther color.—Strong orange yellow [68. s.OY].
    • Pollen production.—Strong, enticing to bees.
    • Stigma color.—Brilliant greenish yellow [96. brill.gY].
    • Stigma position.—Located slightly above the average anther position.
    • Stamen position.—Typically located about 1/32″ [0.8 mm] below the petals.
    • Sepal color.—Vivid yellow green [115. v.YG] on the outside, Light yellow green [119. l.YG] on the inside.
    • Sepal outer surface.—Slightly pubescent.
    • Sepal length.— 3/16″ [4.8 mm.].
    • Sepal width.—⅛″ [3.2 mm.].
    • Sepal apex.—Rounded to elliptical to match the width and length.
    • Sepal margin.—Fairly smooth.
    • Average pistil length.— 11/16″ [17.5 mm.].
    • Average stamen length.—⅝″ [15.9 mm.].
    • Ovary.—Smooth.
    • Fragrance.—Moderate.
    • Pollen production.—Strong, bee enticing.
    • Bloom density.—Moderate.
    • Number per cluster.—2 to 5, mostly 2.
    • Blooming period.—Medium, about two days after ‘Santa Rosa’ plum (unpatented).
    • Onset of bloom.—One percent on Feb. 24, 2019.
    • Date of full bloom.—Mar. 7, 2019.
    • Duration of bloom.—One to two weeks, dependent on ambient temperature.

FRUIT

• Maturity when described: Full ripe, Jul. 10, 2019.
• Date of first picking: Jun. 26, 2019.
• Date of last picking: Jul. 10, 2019.
• Size: Uniform, medium.
  • • Average diameter axially.—2½″ [63.5 mm.].
    • Average diameter across cheek plane.—2½″ [63.5 mm.].
    • Average diameter across suture plane.—2½″ [63.5 mm.].
    • Typical weight.—5.2 ounces [148 grams].
• Form: Uniform, globose to slightly heart shaped, symmetrical.
  • • Longitudinal section form.—Round to slightly heart shaped.
    • Axial view form.—Round.
• Suture: A shallow trough extending from the base to near the apex.
• Ventral surface: Rounded, lipped on both sides.
• Lips: Fairly equal.
• Cavity: Flaring.
  • • Depth.—½″ [12.7 mm.].
    • Breadth.—1 1/16″ [27.0 mm.].
• Base: Truncate, somewhat cordate if viewed parallel to the suture.
• Apex: Rounded.
• Pistil point: An inconspicuous Light brown [57. l.Br] dot.
• Stem: Medium.
  • • Average length.— 7/16″ [11.1 mm.].
    • Average width.—⅛″ [3.2 mm.].
• Skin:
  • • Thickness.—Medium.
    • Surface.—Smooth.
    • Tenacity.—Tenacious to the flesh.
    • Astringency.—Moderate.
    • Tendency to crack.—None observed.
    • Color.—A Very deep red [14. v.deep R] and Vivid greenish yellow [97. v.gY] variegation with strong Light yellow [86. l.Y] freckling throughout.
• Flesh:
  • • Color.—Deep red [13. deep R] close to the skin smoothly blending to Dark yellowish pink [30. d.yPk] toward the stone with Very deep red [14. v.deep R] fibers throughout.
    • Amygdalin.—Moderate.
    • Juice.—Abundant, rich.
    • Texture.—Firm, meaty, crisp.
    • Fibers.—Abundant, fine, tender.
    • Ripens.—Fairly even.
    • Flavor.—A very tasty blend of acid and sugar, typically 24 brix.
    • Aroma.—Very slight.
    • Eating quality.—Excellent.

STONE

• Type: Freestone.
• Form: Elliptical to obovate.
• Hilum: Narrow.
• Base: Rounded.
• Apex: Acuminate.
• Tip: Sharp, about 1/64″ [0.4 mm.] in length.
• Sides: Mostly equal.
• Surface: Fairly smooth with rounded ridges toward the base.
• External color of stone: Brownish orange [54. brO].
• Pit wall color when cracked: Light yellowish brown [76. l.yBr].
• Cavity surface color: Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr].
• Average pit wall thickness: 1/16″ [1.6 mm.].
• Average length: ⅞″ [22.2 mm.].
• Average width: ¾″ [19.1 mm.].
• Average breadth: ½″ [12.7 mm.].
• Tendency to split: None observed.
• Kernel:
  • • Form.—Oval.
    • Skin color.—Pale orange yellow [73. p.OY].
    • Pellicle color.—Dark yellowish brown [78. d.yBr].
    • Vein color.—Deep yellowish brown [75. deep yBr].
    • Taste.—Bitter.
    • Viable.—Yes.
    • Average length.— 9/16″ [14.3 mm.].
    • Average width.—½″ [12.7 mm.].
    • Amygdalin.—Moderate.

USE

• Market: Fresh market and long distance shipping.
• Keeping quality: Good, fruit quality observed to remain in good condition after 21 days in standard cold room at 36° Fahrenheit [2° Celsius].
• Shipping quality: Good.
• Resistance to insects: No unusual susceptibilities noted.
• Resistance to diseases: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

OTHER NOTES

Although the new variety of plum tree possesses the described characteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., in the central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected that variations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas with different climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varying cultural practices.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of plum tree, Prunus salicina, substantially as illustrated and described, that is most similar to ‘Plumsweet XI’ interspecific tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,796), by being self-unfruitful and by producing fruit that is a red and greenish yellow two-tone with freckles in skin color, firm in texture, juicy, very sweet, and excellent in flavor, but is distinguished therefrom by blooming in the mid instead of early season and by producing fruit that is globose to heart shaped instead of oblate, completely red and pink in flesh color instead of red and yellow, freestone instead of clingstone in type, and that ripens about 5 days earlier.