Peach tree named ‘Mia Snow’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of peach tree (Prunus persica). The following features of the tree and its fruit are characterized with the tree budded on Nemaguard Rootstock (non-patented), grown on Handford sandy loam soil with Storie Index rating 95, in USDA Hardiness Zone 9, near Modesto, Calif., with standard commercial fruit growing practices, such as pruning, thinning, spraying, irrigation and fertilization. Its novelty consist of the following combination of desirable features: 1. Tree having a vigorous, upright growth habit. 2. Tree being a regular and productive bearer of large size fruit. 3. Fruit with an attractive red skin color. 4. Fruit with very good flavor and eating quality. 5. Freestone fruit with firm, white flesh.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of peach tree, substantially as illustrated and described.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

(1) The accompanying color photographic illustration shows typical specimens of the foliage and fruit of the present new peach variety. The illustration shows the upper and lower surface of the leaves, an exterior and sectional view of a single fruit divided in its suture plane to show flesh color, pit cavity and the stone remaining in place. The photographic illustration was taken shortly after being picked (shipping ripe) from a 4 year old tree and the colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

(2) The following is a detailed botanical description of the new variety of peach tree, its flowers, foliage and fruit, as based on observations of 4 year old specimens grown near Modesto, Calif., with color in accordance with Munsell Book of Color published in 1958. Tree: Size.Large, usually pruned to 3 to 3.5 meters in height and width for economical harvesting of fruit. Size varies with different cultural practices. Vigor.Vigorous, growth of 1.5 to 2 meters in height the first growing season. Varies slightly with type and fertility of soil, climatic conditions and cultural practices. Form.Upright, usually pruned to vase shape. Branching habit.Upright, crotch angle approximately 35, increases with heavy crop load. Productivity.Productive, thinning and spacing of fruit necessary for desired market size fruit. Number of fruit set varies with climatic conditions during blooming period. Bearer.Regular, has had adequate fruit set 3 consecutive years. No alternate bearing observed. Fertility.Self fertile. Density.Medium dense, usually pruned to vase shape to increase air movement and sunlight to enhance fruit color and health of fruit wood. Hardiness.Hardy in all stone fruit growing areas of California. Tree grown in USDA Hardiness Zone 9. Winter chilling requirement approximately 800 hours at or below 45 F. Trunk: Size.Large, average circumference 53.3 cm at 22.9 cm above ground on a 4 year old tree. Stocky.Medium stocky. Texture.Medium shaggy, roughness increases with age. Color.7.5YR 2/2. Branches: Size.Medium. Average circumference 16.0 cm at 1.2 meters above ground. Crotch angle approximately 35, increases with heavy crop load. Leaves: Size.Large. Average length 156.1 mm. Average width 35.6 mm. Form.Lanceolate. Apex.Acuminate. Base.Cuneate. Margin.Serrate. Thickness.Medium. Surface texture.Upper surface relatively smooth, slight indentations over midrib and leaf veins. Lower surface relatively smooth, except for small ridges created by midrib and pinnate venation. Both upper and lower surfaces glabrous. Petiole.Average length 12.2 mm. Average width 1.6 mm. Longitudinally grooved. Surface glabrous. Color 2.5GY 6/6. Glands.Type reniform. Size small. Average length 1.0 mm. Average diameter 0.8 mm. Number varies from 1 to 3, average number 2. Located primarily on the upper portion of the petiole and the base of leaf blade. Color 2.5GY 6/6. Stipules.None present at time of measurements. Color.Upper surface varies from 7.5GY 4/4 to 7.5GY 3/4. Lower surface varies from 5GY 5/4 to 5GY 4/4. Midvein color 2.5GY 8/4. Flower buds: Size.Large. Average length 18.4 mm. Average diameter 11.5 mm. Hardiness.Hardy with respect to California winters. Density.Dense. Form.Conical, becoming elongated just before opening. Pedicel.Average length 3.8 mm. Average width 1.5 mm. Surface glabrous. Color varies from 10Y 6/6 to 2.5GY 6/6. Flowers: Blooming period.Date of First Bloom Mar. 4, 2017. Date of Petal Fall Mar. 14, 2017, varies slightly with climatic conditions. Size.Large. Average height 20.0 mm. Average diameter 46.3 mm. Petals.Normally 5, alternately arranged to sepals. Size large. Average length 24.5 mm. Average diameter 21.1 mm. Petal apex rounded to ovate. Petal base truncate. Form elliptical. Arrangement overlapping. Margin sinuate. Color varies from 5RP 6/8 to 2.5RP 8/6, fades with age. Sepals.Number normally 5, alternately arranged to petals. Size large. Average length 5.9 mm. Average width 6.2 mm. Shape ovate. Apex ovate to triangular. Margin entire. Color upper surface varies from 2.5GY 4/6 to 2.5GY 5/6. Lower surface varies from 5R 2/6 to 7.5R 2/4. Surface upper surface glabrous, lower surface pubescent. Stamens.Average number per flower 41. Average filament length 15.4 mm. On average, the stamens are below the height of the petals. Filament color varies from N 9.5/(white) to 2.5 RP 5/8. Anther color varies from 5R 3/8 to 5Y 8/4. Pollen.Self fertile. Color varies from 2.5Y 6/8 to 2.5Y 6/10. Pistil.Number normally one. Average length 19.1 mm. Surface pubescent. Color varies from 5Y 8/8 to 7.5Y 7/8. Fragrance.Slight. Color.Varies from 5RP 8/4 to 5RP 7/10. Pedicel.Average length 4.1 mm. Average width 1.7 mm. Color varies from 2.5GY 7/8 to 2.5GY 6/8. Number flowers per flower bud.Normally one. Fruit: Maturity when described.Firm ripe and ready for consumption. Date of first picking.Aug. 9, 2017. Date of last picking.Aug. 19, 2017, varies slightly with climatic conditions. Size.Large. Average diameter axially 79.0 mm. Average transversely in suture plane 85.8 mm. Average weight 322.0 grams, varies slightly with fertility of the soil, amount of thinning and climatic conditions. Form.Globose. Suture.Nearly smooth to slightly lipped. Ventral surface.Nearly smooth to slightly lipped. Apex.Rounded to slight tip. Base.Retuse. Stem cavity.Rounded to slightly elongated in suture plane. Average depth 15.0 mm. Average diameter 8.6 mm. Stem: Size.Small to medium. Average length 9.6 mm. Average width 4.1 mm. Color.Varies from 10Y 6/6 to 2.5GY 6/6. Flesh: Ripens.Evenly. Texture.Firm, meaty, crisp. Fibers.Few, small, tender. Firmness.Very good, comparable to other commercial peach varieties. Aroma.Slight. Amydgalin.Undetected. Eating quality.Very good. Flavor.Very good, with a sweet sub-acid flavor. Juice.Moderate amount, enhances flavor. Acidity.Not available. Brix.Average Brix 13.4, varies slightly with amount of fruit per tree and climatic conditions. Color.Varies from N 9.5/(white) to 10Y 9/2. Pit cavity.Average length 42.1 mm. Average width 31.2 mm. Average depth 13.6 mm. Color varies 5R 3/10 to 5R 3/8. Skin: Thickness.Medium. Surface.Smooth. Pubescence.Moderate amount, short in length. Tendency to crack.None. Color.Ground color varies from 5Y 8.5/4 to 5Y 8/4. Overspread with 5R 3/6 to 7.5R 4/8. Tenacity.Tenacious to the flesh. Astringency.Undetected. Stone: Type.Freestone, weak to medium adherence to flesh. Size.Large. Average length 39.1 mm. Average width 28.2 mm. Average thickness 23.2 mm. Form.Obovoid. Base.Flat. Apex.Pointed. Average length 2.9 mm. Surface.Pitted throughout, pits vary from round to elongated. Sides.Unequal, one side extending further from suture plane. Ridges.Relatively smooth, extending from base to apex. Tendency to split.None. Color.Varies from 10R 3/6 to 10R 2/4 when dry. Kernel: Size.Medium to large. Average length 20.7 mm. Average width 13.2 mm. Average depth 7.0 mm. Form.Ovate. Viability.Viable, complete embryo development. Skin color.Varies from 2.5Y 8.5/6 to 2.5Y 8/6. Use: Dessert. Market.Local and long distance. Keeping quality: Good, held firm in cold storage 3 weeks at 38 to 42 F. without shriveling, internal breakdown of flesh or appreciable loss of flavor. Shipping quality: Good, showed minimal skin scarring or flesh bruising during picking, packing and shipping trials. Plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility: No specific testing for relative plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility has been designed. Under close observation during planting, growing, and harvesting of fruit, under normal cultural and growing conditions near Modesto, Calif., no particular plant/fruit disease resistance or susceptibility has been observed. Any variety or selection observed during indexing of plant characteristics with abnormal fungus, bacterial, virus or insect susceptibility is destroyed and eliminated from our breeding program. No atypical resistances/susceptibilities have been noted under normal cultural practices. The present new variety of peach tree, its flowers, foliage and fruit herein described may vary in slight detail due to climate, soil conditions and cultural practices under which the variety may be grown. The present description is that of the variety grown under the ecological conditions prevailing near Modesto, Calif.