Almond variety named ‘MAXIMA’

Abstract

A new and distinct almond variety of Prunus dulcis named MAXIMA, particularly characterized by large kernels and very high production. Other desirable characteristics include early to medium harvest time, well-sealed semihard shells, and high quality, sweet kernels with high oil and vitamin E content.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of almond tree (Prunus dulcis) named MAXIMA, 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 MAXIMA 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 MAXIMA. The trees were grown on Nemaguard rootstock.

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

(3) FIG. 2 shows various images of fruit of MAXIMA, 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 MAXIMA 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 MAXIMA variety when observed during the growing seasons from 2010 to 2015 at Lindsay Point, Victoria, Australia. During 2015, the MAXIMA trees were nine years of age. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from a number of trees of MAXIMA. The measurements of any individual tree (or any group of trees) of MAXIMA 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 MAXIMA, 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. Mature tree height is approximately 3.8 meters with a spread of approximately 4 meters at about 11 years of age. Vigor.Medium. Density.High. Habit.Spreading. Trunk: Diameter.About 15 cm wide and about 51.2 cm high at about 4 years of age. Texture.Slightly rough. Color of bark.RHS 177B, light reddish brown. Lenticels length.About 2.3 mm. Lenticels width.About 1.1 mm. Lenticels density.About 13 per cm.sup.2 on nine year-old wood. Lenticels shape.Narrow elliptic. Lenticels color.RHS 164B, moderate orange yellow. Current season shoot: Shape in cross section.Round. Color.RHS 143B, strong yellow green. Texture.Smooth. One year-old shoot: Length.Up to about 1.5 m. Texture.Rough. Internode length.About 14-19 mm. Thickness.Thin, about 2.5-3.5 mm. Shape in cross section.Round. Color.RHS N199C, moderate yellowish brown. Anthocyanin coloration.Strong coloration on sunny side; Upper surface: RHS 183A; Lower surface: RHS 144A. Intensity of anthocyanin coloration.Strong. Feathering.Absent or very slight. Lenticels.Present. Lenticels density.About 30-33 per cm.sup.2. Lenticels shape.Round to elliptic. Lenticels length.About 0.9-1.3 mm. Lenticels width.About 0.5 mm. Buds: Shape.Lateral: acute; Terminal: acute. Length.Lateral: 6.7-7.1 mm; Terminal: 6-9.4 mm. Diameter.Lateral: 3.3-3.8 mm; Terminal: 3.3-3.7 mm. Color.Lateral: 200B, pubescent; Terminal: 200A, pubescent. Spurs: Shape.Cylindrical. Length.About 17.4-45.6 mm. Diameter.About 3.4-4 mm. Color.RHS 165A. Leaves per spur.About 8.73. Mature wood: Color.RHS 165A. Foliage: Density.Dense. Leaf blade: Length.About 55-70 mm, average 61 mm. Width.About 19-25 mm, average 21 mm. Length/width ratio.Low to medium. Shape.Elliptic. Shape of base.Obtuse. Shape of apex.Acute. Color.Upper surface: RHS NN137B, greyish olive green. Incisions of margin.Crenate. Venation type.Arcuate to pinnate. Petiole: Length.About 20-27 mm, average 24 mm. Color.RHS 143A, 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.Very weak to weak. Flower: Diameter of flower.About 41-52 mm, average about 47 mm, large. Depth of flower.About 19.2 mm (average). Number of flowers.Single or clusters. Texture of flowers.Smooth. Scent of flowers.Fragrant. Length of petals.About 22.2 (average). Width of petals.About 17.34 mm (average). Texture of petals.Upper surface: smooth; Lower surface: smooth. Margin.Indented, deeply lobed. Shape of petals.Elliptic to broad elliptic. Shape of apex.Retuse, indented. Shape of base.Acute. Number of petals.Five or six. Color of petals.Upper surface: RHS NN155D with RHS 69D blush, yellowish white; Lower surface: RHS NN155D with RHS 69D blush. Number of stamens.About 32.9 (average). Color of stamens.White. Number of pistils.Always one. Length of pistils.About 14.11 mm. Color of pistils.RHS 145C. Position of stigma as compared with anthers.Below. Sepals: Number.About 5 or 6. Shape.Broad elliptic. Length.About 7.13 mm (average). Width.About 4.77 mm (average). Apex.Rounded. Margin.Very hairy. Color.Outer surface: RHS 144B with pale sections. Inner surface: RHS 144B with nectary RHS 25B becoming paler; nectary is moist. Pedicels: Length.About 2.15 mm (average). Color.RHS 144A. Stamen: Anthocyanin coloration of filament.White. Length of filament.About 7.69 mm (average). Stigma: Size.Medium. Pollen: Amount.Moderate. Color.RHS 153D. Green fruit: Shape.Pointed. Average length.About 42.76 mm. Average width.About 31.42 mm. Average thickness.About 23.49 mm. Color.RHS N148A, moderate yellow green. Pubescence.Much. Dry fruit: Shape.Ovate. Shape of apex.Pointed. Length.About 33-39 mm. Width.About 23-27 mm. Thickness.About 14-17 mm. Average weight.About 3.98 g. Color.RHS 164B, moderate orange yellow. Surface.Smooth with moderate pitting. Thickness of endocarp.About 1-3 mm. Resistance to cracking.Semihard. Percentage of kernel to dry fruit.Approximately 38%. Keel development.Medium to strong. Distribution on tree.On spurs and one year-old shoots. Base.Flat to weakly cordate. Color.Inner surface: RHS 164B. Fruit: Percentage of double kernels.None. Eating quality.Excellent. Oil content average is about 62.4%; Oleic acid is about 59.9%, Vitamin E is about 51.7 mg/100 g oil. Production.Regular fruit bearer. Kernel: Shape.Broad elliptic. Size.Large. Average weight.About 1.51 g. Length.About 22-29 mm. Width.About 13-16 mm. Thickness.About 7-9 mm. Main color.RHS 164B, moderate orange yellow. Intensity of color.Light. Rugosity.Weak. Taste.Sweet. Apex.Acuminate, short tip. Base.Rounded. Yield.About 5,804 kg/ha at 10 years. Blooming/flowering timing: Time of beginning of flowering.August to September (late winter to early spring Australia); Full bloom up to about six days after Nonpareil. Time of leaf budburst in relation to beginning of flowering.Simultaneous to beginning of blooming to later depending on season. Flowering period.Mid-August to early September (late winter to early spring Australia); Up to three and one half weeks depending on the weather; Full bloom about mid-August. 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 Vitamin E content (about 52 mg/100 mL oil). Shipping ability.Good. Harvest: Peak.February (late summer Australia); Approximately 12 days after Nonpareil. Pest resistance/susceptibility: Resistance.Semi-hard shell is resistant to insect attacks; Very good resistance to bacterial spot and hull rot.