Almond variety named ‘CARINA’

Abstract

A new and distinct almond variety of Prunus dulcis named CARINA, particularly characterized by self-fertility and very high production. Other desirable characteristics include very early to early harvest time, well-sealed semi-hard shells, and high quality, sweet kernels with high oil content.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of almond tree (Prunus dulcis) named CARINA, as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The accompanying photographs (drawings) illustrate the overall appearance of the new Prunus dulcis CARINA showing the colors, as true as is reasonably possible with digital reproduction. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of CARINA. The trees were grown on Nemaguard rootstock.

(2) FIG. 1 shows typical flowers of CARINA, dissected (FIG. 1A) and in situ (FIG. 1B).

(3) FIG. 2 shows various images of fruit of CARINA, including a one year-old shoot, showing green immature fruit (FIG. 2A), mature fruit in situ (FIG. 2B), and kernel and dry fruit shape (FIG. 2C).

(4) FIG. 3 shows a typical four year-old tree of CARINA on 15 Sep. 2010.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(5) Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown outside under natural season conditions and cultural practices which approximate those generally used in commercial almond production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 14.5 C. to 48.2 C., night ranged from about 5.7 C. to 14 C. and light levels ranged from about 126,905 to 564,729 foot-candles. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants.

(6) The following is a detailed description of the new CARINA variety when observed during the growing seasons from 2010 to 2015 at Lindsay Point, Victoria, Australia. During 2015, the CARINA trees were nine years of age. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from a number of trees of CARINA. The measurements of any individual tree (or any group of trees) of CARINA may vary from the stated average.

(7) Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.)., sixth edition, (2015). Color values were taken under conditions of natural light.

(8) All of the trees of CARINA, insofar as they have been observed, have been consistent in the characteristics described below. Classification: Botanical.Prunus dulcis. Parentage: Female, or seed parent.Prunus dulcis variety designated Nonpareil, unpatented. Male, or pollen parent.French self-fertile Prunus dulcis variety designated Lauranne, unpatented. Propagation: Type.Budding onto rootstock. Time to initiate roots.NA. Time to produce young plant.Eight months. Root description.Nemaguard (unpatented) rootstock. Plant description: Tree: Size.Slightly smaller than Nonpareil. At 11 years of age, tree height is approximately 4 meters with a spread of approximately 4.5 meters. Vigor.Low to medium. Density.Medium to high. Habit.Open with some limbs hanging over slightly. Trunk: Diameter.At 4 years of age, about 15 cm wide and about 49.6 cm high. Texture.Rough with some cracking. Color of bark.RHS N200 B, brownish grey. Lenticels length.About 2.3 mm. Lenticels width.About 1.2 mm. Lenticels density.About 10 per cm.sup.2 on nine year-old wood. Lenticels shape.Narrow elliptic. Lenticels color.RHS 165A, moderate brown. Current season shoot: Shape in cross section.Round. Color.RHS 143B, strong yellow green. Texture.Smooth and glabrous. One year-old shoot: Length.Up to about 90 cm. Texture.Smooth to slightly rough. Internode length.About 20-24 mm. Thickness.Thin to medium, about 2.5-3.8 mm. Shape in cross section.Round. Color.RHS N199D, strong yellowish brown. Anthocyanin coloration.Strong coloration on sunny side; Lower surface: RHS 143A; Upper surface: RHS 178A. Intensity of anthocyanin coloration.Strong. Feathering.Very slight to slight. Lenticels.Present. Lenticels density.About 25-31 per cm.sup.2. Lenticels shape.Elliptic. Lenticels length.About 0.8-1.6 mm. Lenticels width.About 1 mm. Lenticels color.RHS 156D. Buds: Shape.Lateral: obtuse; Terminal: acute. Length.Lateral: About 5.5-5.9 mm; Terminal: About 5-5.7 mm. Diameter.Lateral: About 2.9-3.3 mm; Terminal: About 3.2-3.7 mm. Color.Lateral: RHS 166A; Terminal: RHS 200B. Spurs: Shape.Cylindrical. Length.About 12.4-35.6 mm. Diameter.About 4.4-5.9 mm. Color.RHS 174A. Leaves per spur.About 13.1. Mature wood: Color.RHS 166B. Foliage: Density.Medium. Leaf blade: Length.About 55-70 mm, average 62 mm. Width.About 18-26 mm, average 23 mm. Length/width ratio.Low. Shape.Elliptic. Shape of base.Obtuse. Shape of apex.Obtuse. Color.Upper surface: RHS NN137B, greyish olive green. Incisions of margin.Crenate. Venation type.Arcuate to pinnate. Petiole: Length.About 14-28 mm, average 20 mm. Color.RHS 144A, strong yellow green. Shape in cross section.Concave. Flower buds: Distribution.Intermediate. Shape.Conical. Color of tip of petals.RHS 62D, pale purplish pink. Color of sepals.RHS 183B, dark red. Hairiness of sepals.Medium. Flower: Diameter of flower.About 38-45 mm, average 40 mm, medium. Depth of flower.About 17.82 mm (average). Number of flowers.Single or clusters up to seven. Color of flower.Pale pink center when mature. Scent.Fragrant. Length of petals.About 19.2 mm (average). Width of petals.About 15.9 mm (average). Texture of petals.Upper surface: Smooth; Lower surface: Very smooth. Margin.Indented, retuse, rounded, 2-3 lobes. Shape of petals.Elliptic. Shape of apex.Retuse, indented. Shape of base.Acute. Number of petals.Five. Color of petals.Upper surface: RHS NN155C with pink blush to RHS N66A; Lower surface: RHS NN155C. Number of stamens.About 31.8 (average). Color of stamens.White to RHS 63C pink. Number of pistils.Always one. Length of pistils.About 15.22 mm (average). Color of pistils.RHS 145C with some anthoy on lower parts. Position of stigma as compared with anthers.Below. Sepals: Number.Five. Shape.Broad elliptic. Length.About 7.34 mm (average). Width.About 4.84 mm (average). Apex.Rounded. Margin.Very hairy. Color.Outer: RHS 138B; Inner: RHS 138C nectary RHS 25B. Pedicels: Length.About 2.71 mm (average). Color.RHS 144A. Stamen: Anthocyanin coloration of filament.Present; white to pink RHS 63C. Filament length.About 8.28 mm (average). Stigma: Size.Large. Pollen: Amount.Moderate. Color.RHS 153D. Green fruit: Size.Large. Shape.Ovate. Average length.About 37.7 mm. Average width.About 30.67 mm. Average thickness.About 25.01 mm. Color.RHS N148C, moderate yellow green. Pubescence.Much. Dry fruit: Shape.Ovate. Shape of apex.Pointed. Length.About 26-34 mm. Width.About 18-25 mm. Thickness.About 14-17 mm. Average weight.About 2.7 g. Color.RHS 164B, moderate orange yellow. Surface.Smooth with moderate pitting. Thickness of endocarp.About 2-3 mm. Resistance to cracking.Medium, semi-hard. Percentage of kernel to dry fruit.Approximately 34%. Keel development.Weak. Distribution on tree.On spurs and one year-old shoots. Base.Flat. Color.Inner surface: RHS 164B. Fruit: Percentage of double kernels.Very low, less than 1%. Eating quality.Excellent. Oil content average is about 57.4%; Oleic acid is about 62.3%, Vitamin E is about 53.8 mg/100 g oil. Production.Regular fruit bearer. Kernel: Shape.Broad elliptic. Size.Small. Average weight.About 1 g. Length.About 19-24 mm. Width.About 11-15 mm. Thickness.About 7-9 mm. Main color.RHS 164B, moderate orange yellow. Intensity of color.Light. Rugosity.Weak. Taste.Sweet. Apex.Mucronate. Base.Rounded. Yield.About 5,634 kg/ha at 10 years. Blooming/flowering timing: Time of beginning of flowering.Full bloom four to five days before Nonpareil; Early August to late August (winter Australia). Time of leaf budburst in relation to beginning of flowering.Early August, generally as flowering is occurring. Flowering period.Early August to late August (winter Australia); Up to about 29 days (about 4 weeks) depending on the weather; Full bloom in about middle of August (Australia). Time of maturity.Approximately 30 weeks from beginning of flowering (about 7 months from August to March Australia). Cultural characteristics: Susceptibility to disease.Very good tolerance to bacterial spot. Storage/shipping: Storage.Good storage ability due to high level of oleic acid (about 62%). Shipping ability.Good. Harvest: Peak.February (late summer Australia); Approximately 8 days after Nonpareil. Pest resistance/susceptibility: Resistance.Semi-hard shell is resistant to insect attacks.