Nectarine tree named ‘Pearlicious XX’

Abstract

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, Prunus persica, broadly characterized by a medium size, moderately vigorous, hardy, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. The variety blooms during the late season and requires about 650 chilling hours. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described in late September, with first picking on Sep. 25, 2017. The fruit is uniform, medium in size, sub-acidic and sweet in flavor, globose in shape, clingstone in type, firm in texture, white in flesh color, fairly red in skin color, and has a bitter tasting kernel.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantially as illustrated and described, that is most similar to Pearlicious XVII (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,835) nectarine by having a moderate size tree, by having showy blossoms, by being self-fertile, by requiring about 650 chilling hours, and by producing nectarines that are fairly red in skin color, white in flesh color, clingstone in type, firm in texture, fairly globose in shape, and very sweet in flavor, but is distinguished therefrom by producing nectarines that are somewhat smaller in size, that have a bitter instead of sweet kernel, and that mature about twenty-five days later.

Description

DRAWING

(1) The accompanying photograph consists of four whole fruits positioned to display the characteristics of the skin color and form, one sliced fruit to reveal the flesh and stone, typical leaves, and four insets depicting the flower buds and blossoms as they appear on the tree during the blooming season.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

(2) Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics of this new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, the following has been observed under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand, Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif., and was developed at the state of firm ripe on Oct. 3, 2017, on a multiplied tree using Nemaguard (unpatented) rootstock during its sixth growing season. The blossom and flower descriptions were made 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

(3) Seed parent: 52P564 (unpatented) nectarine. Pollen parent: 37P398 ((unpatented) nectarine.

TREE

(4) Size: Medium, reaching and maintaining a height of 8 [2.44 m.] and a spread of 7 [2.13 m.] after six growing seasons utilizing typical dormant pruning. Vigor: Medium vigor, responding about average to irrigation and fertilization. The variety grows about 2 [0.61 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 shape. 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-fertile. Bearing: Regular bearer, with no crop failures observed. Chilling requirement: About 650 hours. Leaf bud burst: Medium to late, during the end of flowering. Trunk: Size.Stocky, reaching a maximum diameter of 4 [101.6 mm.] after the sixth growing season. Texture.Medium to shaggy. Bark color.A Light grayish yellowish brown [79. l.gy.yBr] and Grayish yellowish brown [80. gy.yBr] variegation with Brownish orange [54. brO] crevices present. Lenticels.Approximate Number Per Square Inch: 8. Color: Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr]. Average Size: [3.2 mm.] in length. The width is typically one fourth as much as the length. Shape: Eye-shaped. Branches: Size.Medium to slender, diameter of main scaffold is 1 [44.5 mm.] measured 12 above the crotch, diameter of limb is 1 [31.8 mm.] measured 12 above the first fork. Texture.Smooth on first and second year wood, increasing in roughness with age. Color.1st Year Wood Topside: Grayish red [19. gy.R]. 1st Year Wood Underside: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG]. 3rd Year Wood: A Grayish yellowish brown [80. gy.yBr] and Moderate yellowish brown [77. m.yBr] variegation with Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr] crevices present. Lenticels.Number Per Square Inch: About 25 on second year wood. Color: Brownish orange [54. brO]. Average Size: Medium, 1/16 [1.6 mm.] in length. The width is typically one fourth as much as the length. Shape: Eye-shaped. Leaves: Size.Medium. Average Length: 5 [146 mm.]. Average Width: 1 [38.1 mm.]. Arrangement.Alternate. Thickness.Medium. Form.Elliptical. Apex.Acuminate. Base.Acute to rounded. Surface.Smooth on both sides. Color.Dorsal Surface: Moderate olive green [125. m.OlG]. Ventral Surface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG]. Red midvein.Present. Margin.Finely serrate. Venation.Pinnately net veined. Petiole.Average Length: [9.5 mm.]. Average Thickness: 1/16 [1.6 mm.]. Color: Light yellow green [119. l.YG]. Stipules.Number: 2 per leaf, up to 6 per growing tip. Average Length: [6.4 mm.]. Color: Vivid yellow green [115. v.YG] becoming Moderate brown [58. m.Br] with age. Glands.Number: 2 to 6 per leaf. Position: Alternate, first pair is located at the intersection of petiole and base of blade. Form: Reniform. Size: Medium, about 1/32 [0.8 mm.] in length, about 1/64 [0.4 mm.] in width. Color: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG]. Leaf buds.Pointed. Flower buds: Hardiness.Hardy, with respect to central California blooming season. Diameter.Typically [9.5 mm.] 1 week before bloom. Length.Typically [15.9 mm.] 1 week before bloom. Form.Not appressed. Surface.Slightly pubescent. Tip color.Moderate purplish pink [250. m.pPk]. Flowers: Perfect, complete, perigynous, usually a single pistil, about thirty stamens, five sepal and petal locations alternately positioned. Type.Showy, large. Average flower diameter.1 [44.5 mm.]. Average flower depth. 7/16 [11.1 mm.] when fully open. Average pedicel length. 7/64 [2.8 mm.]. Number of petals.Mostly five, extra petal fragments common, double blossoms occasionally observed. Petal arrangement.Overlapping. Petal shape.Circular to oval. Petal margin.Entire, quite wavy. Average petal diameter. [15.9 mm.]. Average petal length. 11/16 [17.5 mm.]. Petal apex.Rounded. Petal base.Rounded to somewhat truncate. Petal color.Light pink [4. l.Pk] toward the apex, Moderate pink [5. m.Pk] toward the base on both sides. Anther color.Dark reddish orange [38. d.rO] at bloom onset. Pollen.Anthers produce an abundance of Brilliant yellow [83. brill.Y] pollen. Stigma color.Light yellow green [119. l.YG]. Stigma position.Typically located about even with the nearby anthers. Stamen position.Typically located about 1/32 [0.8 mm.] below the petals. Ovary.Non-pubescent. Sepal color.Dark purplish red [259. d.pR] on the outer surface. The inner surface is a somewhat translucent Pinkish white [9. pkWhite] with both Grayish purplish red [262. gy.pR] and Vivid yellow green [115. v.YG] areas visible. Sepal length. 5/16 [7.9 mm.]. Sepal width. [6.4 mm.]. Sepal apex.Rounded to elliptical to match the sepal length and width. Sepal margin.Fairly smooth. Average pistil length. 9/16 [14.3 mm.]. Average stamen length. [12.7 mm.]. Fragrance.Moderate. Blooming period.Late compared to other varieties, five days after Pearlicious XVII (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,835) nectarine. Onset of bloom.One percent on Feb. 27, 2017. Date of full bloom.Mar. 9, 2017. Duration of bloom.One to two weeks, dependent on ambient temperature. Bloom density.Heavy. Number per cluster.1 to 3 with single flowers most common.

FRUIT

(5) Maturity when described: Firm ripe, Oct. 3, 2017. Date of first picking: Sep. 25, 2017. Date of last picking: Oct. 8, 2017. Size: Uniform, medium. Average diameter axially.2 [73.0 mm.]. Average diameter across suture plane.2 [69.9 mm.]. Average diameter across cheek plane.2 [69.9 mm.]. Typical weight.7.09 ounces [201 grams]. Form: Uniform, globose to round ovate, mostly symmetrical. Longitudinal section form.Round to oval. Axial view.Round. Suture: A shallow trough extending from the base, along the side, and ending with a slight depression just beyond pistil point. Near the base.A shallow groove. Along the side.A shallow trough. Near the apex.A shallow groove. Ventral surface: Rounded, lipped throughout on both sides. Lips: Slightly unequal. Cavity: Flaring, circular, suture showing on one side, Pale greenish yellow [104. p.gY] stem markings present. Depth. 7/16 [11.1 mm.]. Breadth.1 [28.6 mm.]. Base: Truncate, slightly cordate if viewed parallel to the suture. Apex: Rounded. Pistil point: Apical, short, about 1/16 [1.6 mm.] in length. Stem: Medium. Average length. [9.5 mm.]. Average width. 3/16 [4.8 mm.]. Skin: Thickness.Medium. Surface.Smooth. Tenacity.Tenacious to the flesh. Astringency.Nonastringent. Tendency to crack.None observed. Color.Strong red [12. s.R] over a Pale greenish yellow [104. p.gY] background with some Dark red [16. d.R] mottling throughout. Flesh: Color.Yellowish white [92. yWhite] with some Moderate red [15. m.R] streaking next to the stone. Surface of pit cavity.Covered with Moderate red [15. m.R] broken fibers when twisted away from the stone. Amygdalin.Scarce. Juice.Moderate, rich. Texture.Genetically melting, but remains firm and crisp throughout the harvest period. Fibers.Few, fine, tender. Ripens.Fairly even. Flavor.Sub-acidic, sweet, typically 18 to 20 brix. Aroma.Slight. Eating quality.Very good.

STONE

(6) Type: Clingstone. Form: Elliptical. Hilum: Narrow, oblong. Base: Rounded, slightly oblique. Apex: Acute. Sides: Equal. Tip: Acute, not sharp. Surface: Irregularly furrowed toward the apex, pitted toward the base. Ridges: Jagged. External color: Deep reddish brown [41. deep rBr] when first removed. Pit wall color when cracked: Strong brown [55. s.Br]. Cavity surface color: Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr]. Average pit wall thickness: [6.4 mm.]. Average length: 1 [34.9 mm.]. Average width: 1 [25.4 mm.]. Average breadth: [19.1 mm.]. Tendency to split: None observed. Kernel: Form.Oval. Skin color.Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr]. Pellicle color.Dark brown [59. d.Br]. Vein color.Moderate brown [58. m.Br]. Taste.Bitter. Viable.Yes. Average length. [19.1 mm.]. Average width. 7/16 [11.1 mm.]. Amygdalin.Abundant.

USE

(7) Market: Fresh market and long distance shipping. Keeping quality: Good, fruit quality observed to remain in good condition after 17 days in standard cold room at 36 Fahrenheit [2 Celsius]. Shipping quality: Good. Resistance to insects: Not tested. Resistance to diseases: Not tested.

OTHER NOTES

(8) Although the new variety of nectarine 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.