plant named ‘SERRATO 29’

A new and distinct Psidium tree named ‘SERRATO 29’ which is characterized by the combination of a broad-globular growth habit of the canopy, late-season fruiting, very high fruit yield, globose to ovoid fruit with fewer seeds and dense, firm flesh with a very sweet flavor, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

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Description

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Psidium guajava.

Variety denomination: The inventive cultivar of Psidium disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘SERRATO 29’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘SERRATO 29’ originated as a seedling selection from the open pollination of a plurality of Psidium guajava ‘SERRATO 3’ (unpatented) trees, a variety developed and owned by the inventor, at his exotic fruit farm in Valley Center, Calif. The pollen parent is presumed to also be ‘SERRATO 3’, given the fact that there were no other cultivars in close proximity to the seed parent.

In the course of normal operations, the inventor will initiate cultivation of a new Psidium guajava orchard by first grafting scions of the variety to be produced in the new orchard onto vigorous rootstock. To produce said scions, seeds are harvested from the variety to be produced in the new orchard, germinated in propagation trays, and subsequently grown in nursery containers. Scions are then harvested from these juvenile trees and grafted to the desired rootstock. The newly grafted trees are then grown in 5-gallon nursery containers before being transplanted to the field for commercial fruit production.

The claimed plant originated from this same process. Seeds were harvested from a plurality of ‘SERRATO 3’ trees and the resulting seedlings were later used to establish a new orchard. In 2014, over the course of the fruiting period, the inventor observed 29 trees which were phenotypically different from the parent. These 29 trees exhibited variations in growth habit and fruiting. The claimed tree was observed to fruit earlier and yield more fruit than the parent plants. After further evaluation to confirm the uniqueness and stability of the characteristics first observed, the claimed plant was selected for commercial production and was given the name ‘SERRATO 29’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘SERRATO 29’, by way of grafting, was first performed in 2014 in Valley Center, Calif. Through one subsequent generation, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SERRATO 29’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SERRATO 29’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SERRATO 29’ as a new and distinct Psidium guajava cultivar:

    • 1. ‘SERRATO 29’ exhibits a freely-branching and densely-foliaged growth habit with a broad globular tree crown; and
    • 2. Psidium ‘SERRATO 29’ exhibits late-season fruiting with a fruiting period of approximately three to four months; and
    • 3. Psidium ‘SERRATO 29’ exhibits relatively small, globose to ovoid fruit with a relatively low quantity of seeds; and
    • 4. Psidium ‘SERRATO 29’ exhibits aromatic fruit with dense, firm flesh and a very sweet flavor; and
    • 5. Psidium ‘SERRATO 29’ exhibits a very high fruit yield, with each tree producing approximately 150 kilograms of fruit per harvest season.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, exemplary 4-year-old field-grown ‘SERRATO 29’ trees in Valley Center, Calif.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the fruit of ‘SERRATO 29’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, a cross section of the mature fruit of ‘SERRATO 29’.

 BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements were made in December of 2021 and describe a 4 year old grafted, field-grown ‘SERRATO 29’ tree on Psidium guajava ‘300’ rootstock (unpatented), grown plant in Valley Center, Calif. The tree was grown in full sun, regularly irrigated with low-volume overhead irrigation, and fertigated with a high Potassium and Calcium fertilizer approximately 3 to 4 times a year beginning when fruiting is initiated. Except for the application of a preventative biological fungicide, no chemical treatments of any kind were utilized. Trees are pruned once a year, after harvesting has concluded.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘SERRATO 29’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 1986 edition.

A botanical description of ‘SERRATO 29’ and comparisons with the parent plant and most similar commercial Psidium cultivar known to the inventor are provided below.

  • Plant description:
      • Growth habit.—Small, tropical evergreen, fruit-bearing tree.
      • Crown profile.—Broad globular.
      • Average height from base to top of foliage.—Approximately 5.0 to 5.5 m.
      • Average width.—Approximately 4.25 m to 5.0 m.
      • Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.
      • Propagation details.—Asexual propagation is accomplished by grafting a scion onto rootstock. The most commonly used rootstock is ‘300’, a variety developed and owned by the inventor. Scions form a union with the rootstock in approximately 3 to 4 weeks.
      • Time to produce a fruit-bearing tree.—Approximately 1 to 2 years from planting of a grafted tree into the orchard.
      • Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither tolerance nor resistance to normal diseases and pests of Psidium guajava have been observed.
      • Environmental tolerances.—Hardy to USDA Zone 9; heat and drought tolerant once established.
  • Root system:
      • General.—Extensive, freely-branching, shallow, and generally extending beyond the tree canopy; some deeper roots but no taproot.
  • Stems:
      • Branching habit.—Single rootstock leader gives rise to an abundance of lateral branches above the graft union.
      • Attitude.—Upward and outward to pendulous, as branches age.
      • Aspect.—Quadrangular.
      • Length of lateral branches.—127 cm.
      • Diameter of fruiting branches.—Averaging 1.4 cm at the base.
      • Internode length on lateral branches.—6.5 cm on average.
      • Texture.—Juvenile branches are smooth and moderately tomentose and become progressively fibrous and fissured as they age; branches will exfoliate as wood matures, revealing a smooth texture beneath.
      • Strength.—Moderately strong and pliable.
      • Color, juvenile.—Youngest wood is yellow-green, RHS 144C and suffused with RHS 153D; as wood matures it becomes colored with a mixture of greyed-orange and grey-brown, RHS 177B, 177C, and 199A, and is heavily suffused with greyed-orange, nearest to in between RHS 166A and 175B.
      • Color, mature.—Greyed-orange, nearest to a combination of RHS 165A, 166C, and 174A; exfoliated fibers are grey-brown, nearest to a combination of RHS 199A, 199B, and 200C but predominantly 199B and 200C.
      • Pubescence.—Juvenile branches are moderately tomentose; mature branches are glabrous.
  • Foliage:
      • Arrangement.—Opposite; decussate.
      • Attachment.—Petiolate.
      • Division.—Simple.
      • Lamina.—Dimensions — 15.2 cm long and 7.0 cm wide. Shape — Elliptic to obtuse or oblong. Aspect — Carinate and somewhat reflexed. Apex — Acute. Base — Obtuse. Margin — Entire with light, coarse undulation. Pubescence, adaxial surface — Glabrous. Texture and luster of adaxial surface — Somewhat bullate and semi-glossy. Pubescence, abaxial surface — Glabrous. Texture and luster of abaxial surface — Somewhat bullate and matte. Color — Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS 137D and 144A; suffused with greyed-orange, nearest to a combination of RHS 164A and 175C. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 145A. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS 137C and 147A. Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 146B and 147C. Venation — Pattern — Reticulate; prominently-veined. Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 148B and 146B. Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 151A and 152D.
      • Petiole.—Length —10.0 mm. Width — 4.0 mm. Texture — Smooth and moderately tomentose. Strength — Strong. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 148B and 146B.
  • Inflorescence:
      • Type.—No inflorescence; flowers are solitary, occurring individually or in small clusters in leaf axils.
  • Flower buds:
      • Bud shape.—Ovoid.
      • Bud dimensions.—Approximately 15 to 17 mm long and 10 to 11 mm in diameter.
      • Bud color.—Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS 143C and 144A.
  • Flower:
      • Bloom period.—May through June.
      • Flower type.—Perfect; simple.
      • Flower shape.—Rotate.
      • Persistence.—Not persistent.
      • Flower aspect.—Upward and outward.
      • Fragrance.—Light fragrance.
      • Dimensions.—Approximately 2.4 cm in diameter and 2.0 cm deep.
      • Pedicels.—Dimensions — 10 to 20 mm long and 2.0 mm in diameter. Color — Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS 143C and 144A. Texture and luster — Smooth, lightly tomentose, and matte. Strength — Low.
      • Calyx.—Arrangement — Irregularly rotate with sepals fused at the base, forming a short calyx tube. Dimensions — Approximately 14 to 15 mm long, including the calyx tube, and 8 to 11 mm wide at the widest point between outstretched lobes. Sepals — Quantity — Varying from 2 to 5 lobes. Fused or free — Fused. Sepal lobe dimensions — Approximately 8 to 10 mm long and varying from 6 to 8 mm wide. Sepal lobe shape — Broad elliptic. Sepal lobe apex — Broadly acute to near-obtuse. Aspect — Concave and becoming reflexed at anthesis. Margin — Entire; no undulation. Texture — Smooth and glabrous. Color — Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS 143C and 144A.
      • Petals.—Arrangement — Rotate; petals arranged in a single whorl. Quantity — Typically 4 or 5. Fused or free — Free. Dimensions — Approximately 10 to 15 mm long and 10 to 11 mm wide. Shape — Broad elliptic. Apex — Broadly acute to near-obtuse. Base — Broadly cuneate. Aspect — Concave and becoming reflexed at anthesis. Margin — Entire; light, coarse undulation. Texture — Glabrous. Color — When opening, inner surface — White, RHS 155A. When opening, outer surface — White, RHS 155A. Inner surface, at anthesis — White, RHS 155A. Outer surface, at anthesis — White, RHS 155A. Color fading to — Not fading.
  • Reproductive organs:
      • Androecium.—Stamen quantity — Very abundant; more than 200. Filament — Dimensions — Approximately 10 to 12 mm long and approximately 0.75 mm in diameter. Color — White, RHS 155A; suffused with green-yellow towards the base, nearest to RHS 1D. Anther — Anther attachment — Dorsifixed. Anther shape — Oblong; dehiscing longitudinally. Anther size — 3.0 mm long and 1.5 mm in diameter. Anther color — White, RHS 155D, and lightly suffused with yellow- white at anthesis, nearest to RHS 158B. Pollen — Amount of pollen — Abundant. Pollen color — Yellow, RHS 10D.
      • Gynoecium.—Pistil quantity — One. Stigma — Shape — Round. Dimensions — Approximately 1.75 mm across and 2.0 mm tall. Color — Yellow-green, RHS 145B. Style — Dimensions — Approximately 10 to 12 mm long and 2.0 to 2.25 mm in diameter at the base. Color — Green-white, RHS 157D, and becoming suffused with yellow-green, RHS 145B towards the stigma. Ovary — Position — Inferior. Shape — Globose. Diameter — 10 to 12 mm.
  • Seed and fruit:
      • Fruit.—Type — Multi-seeded berry. Shape — Typically globose but occasionally varying from globose to ovoid to sub-pyriform, with a small calyx cavity and floral remnants present at the base. Dimensions — 6.7 cm in diameter and 7.3 cm long Weight — 177 grams, on average. Texture — Moderately rough. Fragrance — Highly fragrant with the strong, sweet, musky, tropical fruit scent. Color — Epicarp — Immature fruit is yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 144A, 144B, 145A, 145B, and 145C; as fruit matures, it becomes progressively suffused with a combination of yellow and yellow-green (nearest to RHS 4B, 5C, and 151D) beginning near the calyx cavity and spreading proximally; once ripe, the entire epicarp is a combination of yellow and yellow-green nearest to RHS 4B, 5C, 151D, and 154C. Mesocarp — Yellow-green near the epicarp, a mixture of RHS 144C and 145A, and becoming progressively suffused with white towards the endocarp, nearest to RHS 155A. Endocarp — White, nearest to RHS 155A, and lightly suffused with red, nearest to RHS 36D. Harvest season — January through late March to April in Valley Center, Calif. Productivity of the fruit — A mature tree will produce approximately 150 kilograms of fruit per harvest season. Storage characteristics — Fruit stored for 12 to 15 days at 10 to 12 degrees Celsius show no signs of internal breakdown or ripening.
      • Seed.—Abundance — Seeds are embedded in the endocarp. Relatively fewer seeds than the parent and other known varieties approximately 125 to 150 seeds as observed. Shape — Irregularly globular. Size — 3.75 mm long and 3.75 mm in diameter. Color — Greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 163D. Texture and luster — Smooth and matte.

COMPARISON WITH THE PARENT PLANTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SERRATO 29’ may be distinguished from the parent, Psidium ‘SERRATO 3’ (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘SERRATO 29’ ‘SERRATO 3’ Time to fruit. Later than Earlier than ‘SERRATO 3’. ‘SERRATO 29’. Length of 3 to 4 months. 3 months. harvest season. Fruit yield. 150 kilograms of 70 kilograms of fruit per tree, per fruit per tree, per season. season. Fruit firmness. Firmer than Softer than ‘SERRATO 3’. ‘SERRATO 29’. Flavor of the Sweeter than Less sweet, fruit. ‘SERRATO 3’. compared to ‘SERRATO 29’.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMMERCIAL VARIETY

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SERRATO 29’ may be distinguished from the commercial variety, Psidium ‘SERRATO 12’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 18/445,013), by the characteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘SERRATO 29’ ‘SERRATO 12’ Growth habit; tree Broad globular. Upright to globular. crown profile. Time to fruit. Later than Earlier than ‘SERRATO 12’. ‘SERRATO 29’. Flavor of the fruit. Sweeter than Less sweet compared ‘SERRATO 12’. to ‘SERRATO 29’. Fruit size. Smaller than Larger than ‘SERRATO 12’. ‘SERRATO 29’ Fruit yield. 150 kilograms of 115 kilograms of fruit per tree, per fruit per tree, per season. season.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Psidium tree named ‘SERRATO 29’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.

Patent History
Patent number: PP35433
Type: Grant
Filed: Mar 2, 2023
Date of Patent: Oct 24, 2023
Inventor: Jaime Serrato (Valley Center, CA)
Primary Examiner: Karen M Redden
Application Number: 18/445,015
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Fruit (including Ornamental Variety) (PLT/156)
International Classification: A01H 5/08 (20180101); A01H 6/00 (20180101);