Sweet cherry tree named 'IFG Cher-six'

Abstract

This invention is a new and distinct variety of sweet cherry tree denominated IFG Cher-six. The new sweet cherry tree IFG Cher-six is characterized by producing large size blushed fruits having a reniform shape. The IFG Cher-six has medium firm, medium acid fruit with a good eating quality ripening in mid-season. Fruits are moderately tolerant of rain induced cracking. The tree has a medium-low chilling requirement, produces few doubled and spurred fruits and ripens seven to ten days before the Rainier variety.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of sweet cherry tree as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0007] The accompanying photographic drawing in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color IFG Cher-six. The photograph was taken outdoors with indirect lighting. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

[0008] An actively growing shoot tip collected at harvest can be seen in the upper portion of the drawing.

[0009] Typical mature fruit, fruit in cross section and cleaned and dried fruit pits are displayed in the lower half of the drawing.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon R.H.S. Colour Chart, published in 2001 by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

[0011] Throughout this specification subjective description values conform to those set forth by the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR) Cherry Descriptor List (Prunus spp.) (1985) which was developed with full support from the Commission of the European Communities (CEC) Programme Committee for Plant Disease Resistance Breeding and the Use of Genebanks.

[0012] The descriptive matter which follows pertains to IFG Cher-six plants grown in the vicinity of Delano, Kern County, Calif. during 2016, and is believed to apply to plants of the variety grown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere: [0013] Tree: [0014] General: [0015] Age.7 yrs. old. [0016] Height.3.0 M when pruned. [0017] Width.2.6 M when pruned. [0018] Vigor.Moderately vigorous. [0019] Density of foliage.Dense. [0020] Form.Upright. [0021] Rootstock.Prunus mahalab. [0022] Resistance to.Insects: Average typical of Prunus avium species. Diseases: Average typical of Prunus avium species. [0023] Chilling requirements.Medium-low: 350 to 500 hours. [0024] Graft compatibility.Good; produces compatible graft unions with Prunus avium, Mazzard seedling (non-patented) and Prunus mahaleb seedlings (non-patented). [0025] Trunk: [0026] Trunk diameter of 7 year old trees, 30 cm above the soil line.11.8 cm. [0027] Lenticel size.Small. [0028] Lenticel dimensions.Length: About 0.8 cm. Width: About 0.2 cm. [0029] Lenticel shape.Elliptical shape oriented horizontally. [0030] Lenticel color.Greyed-white: 156A. [0031] Trunk surface texture.Intermediate. [0032] Outer bark color.The following colors were observed: Greyed-purple: N186A and 187A. [0033] Branches: [0034] 1-year old wood: [0035] Vertical top growth length.Medium: About 52.2 cm. [0036] Horizontal growth length.Medium: About 51.7 cm. [0037] Diameter.Vertical growth: 1.9 cm. Horizontal growth: 3.0 cm. [0038] Internode length.About 3.3 cm. [0039] Number of lenticels.Few: Approximately 5 lenticels per linear cm. [0040] Lenticel size.Small. [0041] Lenticel dimensions.Length: about 0.1 cm. Width: about 0.1 cm. [0042] Lenticel shape.Round. [0043] Bark color.The following colors were observed: Grey: 201B and Brown: 200D. [0044] 2-year old wood: [0045] Length.About 60.4 cm. [0046] Diameter.About 4.2 cm. [0047] Internode length.About 3.3 cm. [0048] Number of lenticels.Few: Approximately 4 lenticels per linear cm. [0049] Lenticel dimensions.Length: about 0.2 cm. Width: about 0.1 cm. [0050] Lenticel shape.Elliptical shape oriented horizontally. [0051] Bark color.Grey: 201A. [0052] Buds: [0053] Vegetative buds: [0054] Shape.Elongated. [0055] Vegetative bud dimensions.Length: about 1.0 cm. Width: about 0.4 cm. [0056] Vegetative bud burst.About Feb. 12, 2016. [0057] Flower buds: [0058] Flower bud dimensions.Length: about 0.8 cm. Width: about 0.6 cm. [0059] Shape.Oval. [0060] Placement.At bud positions mostly 1 to 7 on first year wood. [0061] Average number of flower buds on first year wood.6. [0062] Number of flower buds per spur on second year wood.3. [0063] Color.Greyed-orange: 166A. [0064] Flower bud burst.About Feb. 14, 2016. [0065] Leaves: [0066] Mature leaves: [0067] Leaf dimensions.Length: About 15.4 cm. Width: About 7.0 cm. [0068] Leaf shape.Ovate, symmetric on both sides of central axis. [0069] Shape of tip.Acuminate: narrowly. [0070] Shape of base.Oblique. [0071] Margin.Serrated: regular: rounded. [0072] Surface texture.Smooth. [0073] Leaf profile.Involute. [0074] Upper surface: [0075] Upper surface pubescence.None. [0076] Upper leaf surface color.Yellow-green: 147A. [0077] Lower surface: [0078] Lower surface pubescence.Dense: all over. [0079] Lower leaf surface color.Yellow-green: 147B. [0080] Petiole: [0081] Petiole dimensions.Length: About 4.5 cm. Width: About 0.2 cm. [0082] Upper surface of petiole color.The following colors were observed: Yellow-green: 144A and Greyed-orange: 166A. [0083] Lower surface of petiole color.Yellow-green: 144B. [0084] Petiole groove.Wide. [0085] Petiole pubescence.Medium: only on lower surface. [0086] Venation.Arcuate. [0087] Vein color.Yellow-green: 144B. [0088] Glands: [0089] Number of glands.2. [0090] Gland dimensions.Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 2.3 mm. [0091] Gland shape.Globose. [0092] Gland location.On petiole. [0093] Gland color.Greyed-purple: 187B. [0094] Leaf stipule.Not present. [0095] Flowers: [0096] Blooming period.Mid-season. [0097] Blooming dates.First Bloom: Feb. 22, 2016 Full Bloom: Feb. 29, 2016. [0098] Number of flowers per cluster.2-4. Average About 3. [0099] Corolla.Composed of unfused petals, somewhat overlapping. [0100] Corolla diameter.2.9 cm. [0101] Petal number.5. [0102] Petal length.About 1.4 cm. [0103] Petal width.About 1.7 cm. [0104] Margin waviness.Weak. [0105] Division of upper margin.Notched. [0106] Color of petal upper surface.White: 155A. [0107] Color of petal lower surface.White: 155A. [0108] Peduncle.Length: About 1.9 cm. Width: About 0.14 cm. [0109] Peduncle color.Yellow-green: 144A. [0110] Number of sepals.5. [0111] Sepal length.About 0.7 cm. [0112] Sepal width.About 0.5 cm. [0113] Sepal shape.Broad ovate. [0114] Sepal color.Upper surface: Yellow-green: 144C. Lower surface: Greyed-orange: 176A. [0115] Filament.Length: About 0.3 to 1.5 cm. Width: About 0.3 mm. [0116] Filament color.White: 155B. [0117] Anther color.Greyed-orange: 163C. [0118] Pollen color.Greyed-yellow: 162A. [0119] Pollen production.Medium. [0120] Self-compatibility of flowers.Self-incompatible. [0121] Flower compatibility group.S1S6. [0122] Fruit: [0123] General: [0124] Ripening period.Mid-season: Approximately: May 4, 2016. [0125] Use.Fresh market. [0126] Keeping quality.Average. [0127] % titratable acidity.About 0.63%. [0128] Refractometer test.Soluble solids: Brix About 17.6. [0129] Firmtech II (g/mm).About 292. [0130] Flavor.Good, medium acid, well balanced. [0131] Juice color.Greyed-orange: 163A. [0132] Juice amount.Intermediate. [0133] Eating quality.Good. [0134] Stem: [0135] Stem.Length: About 5.2 cm. Width: About 0.2 cm. [0136] Stem color.Yellow-green: 144A. [0137] Stem cavity.Shallow. [0138] Stem retention during storage.Excellent. [0139] Stem storage quality.Excellent. [0140] Berry: [0141] Uniformity of size.Uniform. [0142] Shape.Reniform. [0143] Fruit weight.About 10.5 gm. [0144] Apical diameter.About 26.1 mm. [0145] Diameter across suture.About 2.2 cm. [0146] Diameter at right angle to suture plane.About 2.7 cm. [0147] Suture.None. [0148] Percent of excessively deep or split sutures.About 0%. [0149] Doubles.About 10%. [0150] Skin: [0151] Thickness.Thin. [0152] Texture.Smooth, tender. [0153] Skin color.The following colors were observed: Yellow-orange: 14C, and Red: 45A and Grey-orange: 163D. [0154] Tendency to tip crack.Somewhat susceptible. [0155] Tendency to stem cavity crack.Slightly susceptible. [0156] Tendency to suture crack.Not susceptible. [0157] Flesh: [0158] Texture.Medium firm. [0159] Color.Yellow: 10D. [0160] Stone: [0161] Shape.Ovate. [0162] Length.About 12.3 mm. [0163] Width at suture.About 9.4 mm. [0164] Width at right angle to suture.About 6.7 mm. [0165] Type.Semi-free. [0166] Surface texture.Smooth. [0167] Stone color when dry.Orange-white: 159A. [0168] Tendency to split.None. [0169] Base.Rounded. [0170] Apex.Broadly pointed. [0171] Ventral edge.Somewhat wide suture subtended by 2 ridges converging at the base and apex, suture often protruding slightly beyond the horizontal plane of the base of the stone. [0172] Dorsal edge.Smooth, narrow ridge from base to apex.