Nectarine tree named ‘Andes Nec-2’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of clingstone nectarine tree denominated Andes Nec-2 which is characterized by the fruit of which maturing a week after the August Red nectarine that matures at the end of the harvest season. The variety has a slow pulp softening rate commencing during the last two weeks before the commercial harvest, therefore, delaying the harvest. This produces fruit with increased size and soluble solids content. The variety has a high postharvest life potential, and will maintain its initial sensory quality at low temperatures over a period of time. Its fruit is striped/solid red blush over a light yellow background color, with a round, symmetrical fruit shape.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantially as illustrated and described, that is similar to August Red nectarine by producing nectarines that mature at the end of the harvest season, yellow flesh, clingstone in type, and firm in texture, but is distinguished therefrom by maturing a week after, and by producing fruit with a better and longer postharvest potential.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The drawings of the nectarine of the present variety are color photographs:

(2) FIG. 1(a) and FIG. 1(b) show two views of the whole fruit in skin color and form, and typical leaves;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a five year old tree of Andes Nec-2; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows branch of the tree of FIG. 2 and includes enlarged views of the upper surface of a leaf of Andes Nec-2.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(5) Tree: 1. Size.Medium, 2.8-3.4 m high shaped as an open vase, 2.5-2.8 m diameter at the fifth year, similar to cultivar Robin (not patented). 2. Vigor.Medium, similar to cultivar J.H. Hale (not patented). Shoots reach 30 to 50 cm on regular spring/summer growing period. 3. Habit.Horizontal, like cultivar Albertina (not patented). It is well adapted to open vase training. 4. Flowering.Shoot thickness: Medium, 4.5-5.0 mm, similar to cultivar Redhaven (not patented). 5. Flowering shoot.Length of internodes: Medium, 5-8 cm, similar to cultivar Redhaven (not patented). 6. Flowering shoot.Anthocyanin coloration: Present. The shoot zone exposed to sunlight reach a light red color (color CIELab: L=29.00 a=52.50 b=22.21; is based on Mcguire R. G., 1992. Reporting of Objective Color Measurements, Hortscience 27: 1254-1255). 7. Flowering shoot intensity of anthocyanin coloration.Weak, similar to cultivar Springtime (not patented). The lower part of the shoot reaches a light brown color (color CIELab: L=26.40 a=3.37 b=7.51; Mcguire R. G., 1992). 8. Flowering shoot.Density of flower buds (as for 4): Medium, similar to cultivar Michelini (not patented), reaching in an average year 22-36 flowers/30 cm long shoot. 9. Flowering shoot.General distribution of flower buds (as for 4): In groups of two or more, similar to cultivar Redhaven (not patented). 10. The trunk of an 5-year old tree shows a 10-12 cm diameter, measured on 50 cm above the ground, the bark texture is smooth with few lenticels, and the bark color is dark brown (color CIELab: L=42.66 a=3.54 b=11.21; Mcguire R. G., 1992). The primary branches diameter reach 6-7 cm in an 5-year old tree, and the color is light brown (color CIELab: L=27.06 a=3.41 b=7.50; Mcguire R. G., 1992). 11. Vegetative buds shape and color.Acuminate, 4.7-7.9 mm length, color brown (color CIELab: L=97.14 a=-6.78 b=28.63; Mcguire R. G., 1992). Flower: 12. Type.Showy, similar to cultivar Robin, reaching a whole diameter of 2.7 to 3.2 cm, and ovary is settled 0.5 to 0.6 cm low the calyx. 13. Calyx.Color of inner side (opened flower, before falling of petals): Greenish yellow, similar to cultivar Robin (not patented). The color is classified as (color CIELab L=62.01 a=14.08 b=25.67; Mcguire R. G., 1992). 14. Corolla.Predominant color (inner side): Medium pink, similar to cultivar Fuzalode (not patented), classified as CIELab: L=88.22 a=14.01 b=0.7; Mcguire R. G., 1992). 15. Petal.Shape: Round, similar to cultivar Springtime (not patented). 16. Petal.Size: Medium, 1.0 cm in length 1.2 cm in width, similar to cultivar Robin (not patented). 17. Petals, the characteristics of the margins.Soft. 18. The texture of petals is smooth. 19. The length of the pedicel.9-10 mm. 20. The measurements of the nectaries.Absent. 21. The presence of floral fragrance.Floral as Armking. 22. Petals.Number: five, similar to cultivar Redhaven (not patented). 23. Stamens.Position compared to petals: Above 0.5-1.0 mm, similar to cultivar Redhaven (not patented). 24. Stamens.Length: 0.5-0.6 mm, similar to cultivar Springtime (not patented). 25. Stamens.Color: yellow-orange color is classified as CIELab L=83.60 a=4.17 b=43.00; Mcguire R. G., 1992). 26. Stigma.Position compared to anthers: Above, similar to cultivar Redhaven (not patented). 27. Anthers.In number 32 to 39, and the characteristic color is classified as CIELab L=83.13 a=4.21 b=43.43; Mcguire R. G., 1992). Pollen: Present, similar to cultivar Redhaven (not patented). 28. Pistil.Length: 0.5-0.6 mm, similar to cultivar Springtime (not patented). 29. Ovary.Pubescence: Absent, similar to cultivar Fuzalode (not patented). 30. Young shoot.Length of stipule (fully expanded leaf): Long, similar to cultivar Robin (not patented). 31. Number of the stipules.Two. 32. Length of the stipules.7 mm. 33. Color of the stipules.Yellowish green. Mature leaf: 34. Leaf arrangement.Alternate. 35. The venation pattern.Brachidodrome, pinnate. 36. The leaf color in upper surface of young leaves.Medium green similar to cultivar Robin, the objective color in CIELab coordinates is L=30.2 a=6.99 b=8.05 (Mcguire R. G., 1992). 37. The leaf color in lower surface of young leaves.Light green. The objective color in CIELab coordinates is L=37.79 a=9.28 b=12.29 (Mcguire R. G., 1992). 38. The leaf margins.Crenate, like cultivar Crimson Glo (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,856). 39. The texture of the leaf.Smooth 40. Mature leaf blade.Length: Long, 13-15 cm. 41. Mature leaf blade.Width: Medium, 3-4 cm. 42. Mature leaf blade.Ratio length/width: Medium, 4.5, similar to cultivar Early Sungrand (not patented). 43. Mature leaf blade.Shape in cross section: Flat, similar to cultivar Mayred (not patented). 44. Mature leaf blade.Recurvature of apex: Absent, similar to cultivar Merril Sundance (not patented). 45. Mature leaf blade.Angle at base: Acute less than 60, similar to cultivar Springtime (not patented). 46. Mature leaf blade.Angle at apex: Small, similar to cultivar Red June (not patented). 47. Mature leaf blade.Color: Green, similar to cultivar Robin (not patented), classified as (CIELab: L=37.45 a=8.20 b=15.48; Mcguire R. G., 1992) on the upper surface and CIELab: L=58.31 a=5.71 b=12.55; Mcguire R. G., 1992, in the lower surface. 48. Petiole of a mature leaf.Length: Medium 0.8-1.1 cm, similar to cultivar Genadix (not patented). 49. Petiole of a mature leaf.Nectaries present, similar to cultivar Redhaven (not patented). 50. Petiole of a mature leaf.Shape of nectaries: Reniform, similar to cultivar Redhaven (not patented). 51. Petiole of a mature leaf.Predominant number of nectarines: More than two, similar to cultivar Everts (not patented). Fruit: 52. Fruit.Size: Large 190-240 g, similar to cultivar Loring (not patented). 53. Fruit.Shape (in ventral view): Round, similar to cultivar Redwing (not patented). 54. Fruit.Shape of pistil end: Weakly pointed, similar to cultivar Springtime (not patented). 55. Fruit.Symmetry (viewed from pistil end): Symmetric, similar to cultivar Morettini (not patented). 56. Fruit.Prominence of suture: Weak, similar to cultivar Redhaven (not patented). 57. Fruit.Depth of stalk cavity: Medium 0.7-1.2 cm. 58. Fruit.Width of stalk cavity: Medium 1.2-1.4 cm. 59. Fruit.Ground color: Yellow, similar to cultivar Fuzalode (not patented), greenish yellow, classified as CIELab: L=62.16 a=5.18 b=29.45; Mcguire R. G., 1992. 60. Fruit.Over color present, covering 60% of the fruit surface. 61. Fruit.Hue of over color: Medium red, similar to cultivar Red Diamond (not patented), classified as CIELab: L=29.34 a=57.55 b=27.12; Mcguire R. G., 1992. 62. Fruit.Pattern of over color: Striped, similar to cultivar Veteran (not patented). 63. Fruit.Pubescence: Absent. 64. Fruit.Thickness of skin: Medium, similar to cultivar Madame Girard (not patented). 65. Fruit.Adherence of skin to flesh: Strong, similar to cultivar Babygold5 (not patented). 66. Fruit.Firmness of pulp: Firm 8.6-16.2 pounds, similar to cultivar Redhaven (not patented). 67. Fruit.Ground color of flesh: Yellow, classified as CIELab L=63.44 a=4.57 b=21.29; Mcguire R. G., 1992. 68. Fruit.Anthocyanin coloration directly under skin: Weakly expressed. 69. Fruit.Anthocyanin coloration of flesh: Absent. 70. Fruit.Anthocyanin coloration around stone: Strongly expressed. 71. Fruit.Texture of the flesh: Not fibrous, similar to cultivar Redhaven (not patented). 72. Fruit.Sweetness: High 13.4-16.1 Brix %, similar to cultivar Philip cling (not patented). 73. Fruit.Acidity: High 0.85-1.0%, similar to cultivar Armking (not patented). 74. Average size of the fruit.Large, like cultivar Loring, reaching 212 gr. 75. The aroma of the fruit.Average as Venus. Stone: 76. Stone.Size compared to fruit: Medium 3.5-4.0 cm long and 2.0-2.2 cm width, similar to cultivar Redhaven (not patented). 77. Stone.Shape (in lateral view): Elliptical, similar to cultivar Loring (not patented). 78. Stone.Intensity of brown color: Dark, CIELab L=27.67 a=16.21 b=7.66; Mcguire R. G., 1992. 79. Stone.Relief of surface: pit similar to cultivar Madame Girard (not patented). 80. Stone.Tendency of splitting (at peak harvest): Absent or very low, similar to cultivar Fairhaven (not patented). 81. Stone.Adherence to flesh: Present, similar to cultivar Sweet Gold (not patented). 82. Stone.Degree of adherence to flesh: Medium, similar to cultivar Spring Crest (not patented). Phenology: 83. Time of leaf bud burst.Early, similar to cultivar Springtime (not patented). In the Southern Hemisphere is between 9.sup.th to 12.sup.th September. 84. Time of beginning of flowering.Medium, similar to cultivar Redhaven (not patented). In the Southern Hemisphere is between 10.sup.th to 18.sup.th August. 85. Duration of flowering.Medium, similar to cultivar Redhaven (not patented), 6-8 days. 86. Time of maturity for consumption.Late, similar to cultivar Veteran (not patented). In the Southern Hemisphere is on February 28.sup.th to March 4.sup.th. 87. Tendency to preharvest.Absent, similar to cultivar Redhaven (not patented). 88. Pest/disease resistance/susceptibility.This genotype is not genetically resistant to any common pest and disease of peach, as Mildew, leaf curl, bacterial canker, aphids, thrips or, Oriental moth. 89. Productivity is high, reaching 30 to 40 Tons per hectare in the fifth year. 90. Fruit characterization is on table 1.

(6) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Fruit characterization of the nectarine cultivar Andes Nec-2. Skin Ecuatorial Soluble Blush Diameter Firmness (pounds) solids Season (%) (cm) Shoulders Suture Tip ( Brix) 2009-2010 60 10.2 8.6 9.7 10.4 13.4 2010-2011 60 12.3 11.0 12.5 12.8 16.1 2011-2012 50 16.2 11.9 15.0 16.0 13.8 Postharvest behavior: At 50 days in cold storage +3 days at ambient temperature has good external appearance, no browning color or mealy texture, good taste and flesh firmness. General technical notes: Very good outward appearance. Excellent color coverage. Fruit round, no tip. High productivity. Good flavor. Andes Nec-2 is a full self-fertile variety. No pollinator is needed for proper fruit production. Conclusions: After five years of evaluation, the variety continues to show its outstanding characteristics: very good productivity, good size, good flavor and good external appearance (some skin russet). High potential for export purposes because of exceptional post-harvest life.