Asian plum tree named ‘Sweet Pekeetah’

Abstract

A new and distinct plum variety is described. Sweet Pekeetah is an Asian plum variety with unique traits, as extremely late blooming and ripening dates. The flesh of Sweet Pekeetah has crunchy texture, green color and soluble solids concentration reaches 20-22%, with upstanding sensory quality. The postharvest life potential of Sweet Pekeetah can last 60 days keeping the original high sensory quality.

Claims

1. A new and distinct plum tree substantially as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a photograph showing a typical specimen of the foliage and fruit of the new variety depicted in colors as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character. The observations were made on mature trees which ranged in age between four and five years old, four years after budding. The photograph shows the Sweet Pekeetah fruit just after harvest.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a tree of Sweet Pekeetah, with height, foliage and fruit of the new variety depicted in colors as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a branch of Sweet Pekeetah tree showing fruits and leaves as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) The Sweet Pekeetah is a self-unfertile, with semi erect plant growth, weak to medium vigor. The fruit is round, symmetrical, with a deep purple skin color that covers 80 to 90% of the surface over a green background color.

(5) Blooming time of Sweet Pekeetah is extremely late, being contemporary to some European plums as French prune, which is three to four weeks after the majority of known Asian plum varieties.

(6) The main feature of Sweet Pekeetah is its slow pulp softening rate commencing during the last two weeks before the commercial harvest. This characteristic enables delaying the harvest, to increase the size of the fruit and the soluble solids content without affecting their post-harvest life potential.

(7) Secondly, Sweet Pekeetah shows a high post-harvest life, which can reach up to 60 days at 0 C. while maintaining its initial sensory quality. From a sensory point of view, this is a variety of medium acidity with a balanced sweetness/acidity ratio and in general an upstanding sensory quality. The variety is not susceptible to chilling injury and therefore can be suitable for exporting to distant markets from the production zone. Another distinguishing factor compared to other known varieties is that the Sweet Pekeetah reaches a high soluble solid concentration, which can scores 20 to 22%, while Angeleno, for example, barely reaches 16%.

(8) The flesh of Sweet Pekeetah when picked shows a brilliant green color, which is also a remarkable and not common characteristic among this species. The green color of the flesh remains for the first 20 days when fruit is maintained in cold chamber, but after that period, it began to change to yellow-orange. In term of texture, Sweet Pekeetah has an uncommon crunchiness at harvest and even after 60 days of cold storage.

(9) The following is a brief description of the new variety with color terminology in accordance with CIELab coordinates.

(10) The observations were made on mature trees which ranged in age between four and five years old. Trees were grown under standard orchard practices. Bearer: Regular, showed adequate fruit set in 10 consecutive years. No alternate bearing has been observed. Hardiness zone: Hardy in all stone fruit growing areas of Central Chile which is similar to California. Tree should grow in USDA Hardiness Zone 9. Disease and pest resistance: Similar to Angeleno, showing no special resistance to any disease or pest. Chilling requirements: Winter chilling requirement approximately 550-600 hours at or below 0 C. (45 F.). Tree: Medium size, reaching 3.5-3.9 m high shaped as an open vase, 2.0-2.2 m diameter at the fifth year e, reaching 3 to 3.5 meters in height in mature trees. Type of bearing: On spurs and long shoots, similar to cultivar Angeleno and Shiro. Vigor: Weak, similar to cultivar Black Gold and Satsuma, shoots reach 40 to 60 cm and shoot thickness reach 4.5-5.0 mm diameter on a regular spring/summer growing period. Trunk: Medium in size, average circumference 52.0 cm at 20.0 cm above ground on an 8 year old tree. The texture is medium shaggy, and the color L=22.80 a=3.75 b=8.22 (Mcguire R. G., 1992). Habit: Semi-upright, similar to cultivar Laroda. The size of the tree is medium, reaching 3.5-3.9 m high shaped as an open vase, 2.0-2.2 m diameter at the fifth year. One-year-old shoot, color: Brown, similar to cultivar Methley, the objective color in CIELab coordinates is L=26.40 a=3.37 b=7.51 (Mcguire R. G., 1992). Mature branch: Medium, with an average circumference 15.4 cm at 1.0 meter above ground and its crotch angle is large, approximately 60. The surface texture is smooth when young and tend to be rough when mature. The color is L=22.17 a=3.70 b=8.22 (Mcguire R. G., 1992). Spur length: Medium, similar to cultivar Frontier and the flowering shoot thickness reach 3.0-5.3 cm diameter and 8-10 cm length. The objective color in CIELab coordinates is L=26.00 a=3.92 b=7.77 (Mcguire R. G., 1992). Vegetative bud: Size: Small, similar to cultivar Harry Pickstone, reaching 5-7 mm length. Vegetative bud: shape of apex: Acute, similar to cultivar Eldorado. One-year-old shoot position of vegetative bud in relation to shoot: Adpressed, similar to cultivar Queen Ann. Leaf base: Cuneate. Leaf blade length: Medium, reaching 12.8 cm length, similar to cultivar Taiyou. Leaf blade width: Medium, reaching 5.5 cm width, similar to cultivar Sordum. Leaf blade, length/width ratio: Moderately elongated, reaching in average 2.3, similar to cultivar Pioneer. Leaf blade shape: Elliptic, similar to cultivar Black Gold and Taiyou. Leaf blade color of upper side: Medium green, like cultivar Abundance, classified in CIELab coordinates: L=37.45 a=8.20 b=15.48 (Mcguire R. G., 1992). Leaf blade under surface: Pale green, like cultivar Shiro, classified in CIELab coordinates: L=32.65 a=7.10 b=14.80 (Mcguire R. G., 1992). Leaf blade angle of apex (excluding tip): Acute, like cultivar Taiyou. Leaf glossiness of upper side: Medium, similar to cultivar Frontier. Leaf blade density of pubescence of lower side: Sparse, similar to cultivar Angeleno. Leaf blade incisions of margin: Serrate, like cultivar Dapple Dandy. Petiole length: Medium, similar to cultivar Frontier, reaching 1.3 cm length, and 0.1 cm diameter. The color is green, classified in CIELab coordinates: L=37.15 a=7.97 b=15.19 (Mcguire R. G., 1992). Leaf position of nectaries: Predominantly on base of leaf blade, like cultivar Methley. Pedicel length: Medium, reaching approximately 10 mm length, similar to cultivar Queen Ann, and 0.2 cm diameter. The color is green, classified in CIELab coordinates: L=37.01 a=7.63 b=15.00 (Mcguire R. G., 1992). Flower: Buds: Medium size, average length 1.0 cm, and average diameter 0.5 cm. The form is conical. Height: The flower is round shaped and 2.5-2.8 cm height. Diameter: Medium, reaching 15-17 mm, like cultivar Shiro. Arrangement of petals: Free, similar to cultivar Laroda. Sepal shape: Narrow elliptic, similar to cultivar Laroda. Sepal: Number normally 5, alternately arranged to petals. The sepal apex is triangular and the size is medium. Average length 4.0 mm. Average width 2.5 mm. Triangular shape. The margin is entire. The upper and the lower surfaces are glabrous. The color is green, classified in CIELab coordinates: L=38.14 a=10.96 b=14.88 (Mcguire R. G., 1992). Petals: Number: normally 5, alternately arranged to sepals. Petal apex is rounded and the petal base is truncate. The form is globose to elliptical. The petal margin is sinuate. The color is white, classified in CIELab coordinates: L=87.14 a=0.45 b=5.78 (Mcguire R. G., 1992). Petal length: The size is medium. Average length 1.0 cm, and the average width 0.7 cm like cultivar Santa Rosa. Petal shape: Obovate, similar to cultivar Mammoth Cardinal. Petal undulation of margin: Medium, like cultivar Queen Ann. Stigma position in relation to anthers: Below, similar to cultivar Mariposa. Reproductive organs: Stamens: Average number per flower 20. Average filament length 5.5 mm. On average the stamens are below the height of the petals. Filament color is white, classified in CIELab coordinates: L=97.38 a=0.42 b=3.18 (Mcguire R. G., 1992). Anther color: Is yellow, classified in CIELab coordinates: L=76.05 a=6.94 b=43.55 (Mcguire R. G., 1992). Pollen: Self sterile, pollinator required. Color is yellow, classified in CIELab coordinates: L=78.58 a=2.26 b=31.58 (Mcguire R. G., 1992). Pistil number: Normally 1. Surface glabrous. Average length 8.0 mm. Position of stigma an average of 1.5 mm below anthers. Color is pale green, classified in CIELab coordinates: L=84.14 a=7.38 b=18.65 (Mcguire R. G., 1992). Fragrance: Present. Pedicel: Average length 5.0 mm. Average width 0.7 mm. The color is pale green, classified in CIELab coordinates: L:41.09 a:11.45 b:16.94. Number flowers per flower bud: Average number 3, varies from 2 to 4. Fruit: Length of stalk: Medium, reaching in average 8.9 mm, similar to cultivar Sordum. The color is light green, classified in CIELab coordinates: L=38.11 a=7.07 b=15.98 (Mcguire R. G., 1992). Size: Medium, like cultivar Shiro, reaching 140-150 gr. Height: Medium, reaching in average 55.4 mm similar to cultivar Harry Picktone. Width: Medium, diameter in line with suture plane, approximately 60 mm. Diameter perpendicular to suture plane 65 mm, similar to cultivar Casselman. Shape in lateral view: Oblate, similar to cultivar Friar. Symmetry: Slightly asymmetric, like cultivar Laroda. Shape of base: Depressed, similar to cultivar Calita. Shape of apex: Rounded, similar to cultivar Shiro. Depth of stalk cavity: Medium, reaching in average 9.0 mm, like cultivar Angeleno. Width of stalk cavity: Medium, reaching approximately 12 mm similar to cultivar Beni Ryozhen. Depth of suture: Medium, elongated in suture plane. Average depth, 1.0 cm. Average diameter 0.5 cm, similar to cultivar Sordum. Bloom of skin: Strong, like cultivar Sordum. Ground color of skin: Yellowish green, classified in CIELab coordinates: L=46.29 a=4.71 b=17.85 (Mcguire R. G., 1992), like cultivar Taiyou. Relative area of over color: Very large, like cultivar Friar. Over color of skin: Purple, classified in CIELab coordinates: L=535.14 a=127.76 b=53.44 (Mcguire R. G., 1992), like cultivar Karari. Pattern of over color: Solid flush only, similar to cultivar Friar. Number of lenticels: Medium, like cultivar Sunrise. Size of lenticels: Medium, like cultivar Extreme. Color of flesh: Yellowish green, the objective color in CIELab coordinates is L=631.83 a=93.47 b=353.28 (Mcguire R. G., 1992), similar to cultivar Shiro. Firmness: Firm, reaching in average 7-8 pounds, like cultivar Laroda and Taiyou. Juiciness: High, like cultivar Reubennel. Acidity: Low, reaching in average 1.1% malic acid when ripe, similar to cultivar Angeleno. Sweetness: High, reaching in average 20-22 Brix when ripe, like cultivar Black Gold. Aroma: Not detectable. Adherence of stone to flesh: Non-adherent, similar to cultivar Fortune. Amount of fiber: Low. Stone: Size: Small, 1.8 cm long and 1.5 cm width, and 0.7 cm like cultivar Angeleno. Shape in lateral view: Medium elliptic, like cultivar Santa Rosa. Shape in ventral view: Medium elliptic, like cultivar Santa Rosa. Shape in basal view: Medium elliptic, like cultivar Bragialla. Symmetry in lateral view: Symmetric, similar to cultivar Angeleno. Texture of lateral surfaces: Granular, similar to cultivar Nubiana. Width of stalk-end: Medium, like cultivar Harry Pickstone. Additional stone information: In general the stone is particularly small compared with the whole fruit. Pit cavity: It is as long and width as the pit, 2.0 cm long, 1.8 cm width, and 0.8 thickness. The color is brown in CIELab coordinates is L=29.82 a=3.76 b=12.33 (Mcguire R. G., 1992) Kernel: The kernel is heart-shaped, brown color, in CIELab coordinates is L=50.62 a=10.79 b=21.10 (Mcguire R. G., 1992) and the length is 1.4 cm, the width 1.2 cm, and the thickness 0.5 cm. Phenology: Time of beginning of flowering: Very late, 2 weeks later than Angeleno. In the Southern Hemisphere occurs between 10.sup.th to 20.sup.th September. Time of beginning of fruit ripening: Very late, 3 weeks later than Angeleno. In the Southern Hemisphere occurs between 10.sup.th to 20.sup.th March. Keeping quality: After 60 days in cold storage +3 days at room temperature keeps a glossy flesh, good taste and crunchy flesh. Shipping quality: After 60 days in cold storage +3 days at room temperature, the skin keeps the natural wax that inhibits from water loss, so the flesh is juicy and fresh. The flesh firmness ranges from 5 to 8 pounds and the soluble solids concentration remain high (18-21%). The variety is not susceptible to chilling injury and therefore can be suitable for exporting to distant markets from the production zone.