Nectarine tree named ‘August Moon’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree (Prunus persica var. nucipersica). The following features of the tree and its fruit are characterized with the tree budded on Nemaguard Rootstock (non-patented), grown on Handford sandy loam soil with Storie Index rating 95, in USDA Hardiness Zone 9, near Modesto, Calif., with standard commercial fruit growing practices, such as pruning, thinning, spraying, irrigation and fertilization. Its novelty consist of the following combination of desirable features: 1. Tree having a vigorous, upright growth habit. 2. Tree being a regular and productive bearer of large size fruit. 3. Fruit with an attractive red skin color. 4. Fruit with good flavor and eating quality. 5. Clingstone fruit with firm, yellow flesh.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantially as illustrated and described.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

(1) The accompanying color photographic illustration shows typical specimens of the foliage and fruit of the present new nectarine variety. The illustration shows the upper and lower surface of the leaves, an exterior and sectional view of a single fruit divided in its suture plane to show flesh color, pit cavity and the stone remaining in place. The photographic illustration was taken shortly after being picked (shipping ripe) from a 9 year old tree and the colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

(2) The following is a detailed botanical description of the new variety of nectarine tree, its flowers, foliage and fruit, as based on observations of 9 year old specimens grown near Modesto, Calif., with color in accordance with Munsell Book of Color published in 1958. Tree: Size.Large, usually pruned to 3 to 3.5 meters in height and width for economical harvesting of fruit. Size varies with different cultural practices. Vigor.Vigorous, growth of 1.5 to 2 meters in height the first growing season. Varies slightly with type and fertility of soil, climatic conditions and cultural practices. Form.Upright, usually pruned to vase shape. Branching habit.Upright, crotch angle approximately 30, increases with heavy crop load. Productivity.Productive, thinning and spacing of fruit necessary for desired market size fruit. Number of fruit set varies with climatic conditions during blooming period. Bearer.Regular, has had adequate fruit set 7 consecutive years. No alternate bearing observed. Fertility.Self fertile. Density.Medium dense, usually pruned to vase shape to increase air movement and sunlight to enhance fruit color and health of fruit wood. Hardiness.Hardy in all stone fruit growing areas of California. Tree grown in USDA Hardiness Zone 9. Winter chilling requirement approximately 800 hours at or below 45 F. Trunk: Size.Large, average circumference 48.2 cm at 22.9 cm above ground on a 9 year old tree. Stocky.Medium stocky. Texture.Medium shaggy, roughness increases with age. Color.Varies from 7.5GY 2/4 to 5YR 2/4. Branches: Size.Medium. Average circumference 18.5 cm at 1.2 meters above ground. Crotch angle approximately 30, increases with heavy crop load. Surface texture.New growth relatively smooth. Mature growth medium rough, roughness increases with age. Lenticels.Average number 21 in a 25.8 square cm area. Average length 4.9 mm. Average width 2.1 mm. Color varies from 5YR 5/10 to 7.5YR 5/10. Color.New growth varies from 5GY 5/6 to 7.5GY 5/6. Mature growth varies from 5YR 3/4 to 5YR 3/2, varies with age of growth. Leaves: Size.Large. Average length 103.7 mm. Average width 33.9 mm. Form.Lanceolate. Apex.Acuminate. Base.Cuneate. Margin.Serrate. Thickness.Medium. Surface texture.Upper surface relatively smooth, slight indentations over midrib and leaf veins. Lower surface relatively smooth, except for small ridges created by midrib and pinnate venation. Both upper and lower surfaces glabrous. Petiole.Average length 7.5 mm. Average width 1.5 mm. Longitudinally grooved. Surface glabrous. Color varies from 5GY 5/6 to 5GY 6/6. Glands.Type reniform. Size medium to large. Average length 1.4 mm. Average diameter 1.0 mm. Number varies from 1 to 4, average number 2. Located primarily on base of leaf blade and upper portion of petiole. Color varies from 5YR 3/6 to 10YR 5/8. Stipules.Average number 2. Average length 4.0 mm. Edges pectinate. Color varies from 5YR 3/6 to 2.5GY 6/6. Color.Upper surface varies from 5GY 3/6 to 7.5GY 3/4. Lower surface varies from 5GY 5/4 to 7.5GY 4/4. Midvein color varies from 2.5GY 9/2 to 2.5GY 8/2. Flower buds: Size.Large. Average length 19.5 mm. Average diameter 11.8 mm. Hardiness.Hardy with respect to California winters. Density.Medium dense. Form.Conical, becoming elongated just before opening. Pedicel.Average length 3.7 mm. Average width 1.5 mm. Surface glabrous. Color varies from 10Y 7/6 to 2.5GY 7/6. Color.Varies from 5RP 8/6 to 7.5RP 7/8. Flowers: Blooming period.Date of First Bloom Feb. 15, 2016. Date of Petal Fall Feb. 25, 2016, varies slightly with climatic conditions. Size.Large. Average height 21.8 mm. Average diameter 44.5 mm. Petals.Normally 5, alternately arranged to sepals. Size large. Average length 24.5 mm. Average width 20.9 mm. Petal apex rounded. Petal base- truncate. Form elliptical. Arrangement overlapping. Margin sinuate. Color varies from 5RP 8/4 to 7.5RP 8/4, fades with age of flower. Sepals.Normally 5, alternately arranged to petals. Size large. Average length 6.5 mm. Average width 6.5 mm. Sepal apex rounded to triangular. Margin entire. Surface upper surface glabrous, lower surface pubescent. Color upper surface varies from 2.5GY 5/8 to 5R 3/6. Lower surface varies from 2.5R 2/4 to 5R 2/4. Stamens.Average number per flower 48. Average filament length 15.9 mm. On average, the stamens are even with the height of the petals. Filament color varies from N 9.5/(white) to 5RP 6/8. Anther color varies from 7.5R 4/14 to 5Y 8/8. Pollen.Self fertile. Color varies from 2.5Y 7/10 to 5Y 7/10. Pistil.Number normally one. Average length 20.6 mm. Position of stigma an average of 0.7 mm above anthers. Surface glabrous. Color varies from 10Y 8/6 to 2.5GY 8/6. Fragrance.Wanting. Color.Varies from 5RP 8/4 to 5RP 7/6. Pedicel.Average length 4.5 mm. Average width 1.2 mm. Surface- glabrous. Color varies from 2.5GY 6/8 to 5GY 6/6. Number flowers per flower bud.Normally one. Fruit: Maturity when described.Firm ripe and ready for consumption. Date of first picking.Aug. 1, 2016. Date of last picking.Aug. 11, 2016, varies slightly with climatic conditions. Size.Large. Average diameter axially 76.2 mm. Average transversely in suture plane 78.1 mm. Average weight 261.3 grams, varies slightly with fertility of the soil, amount of thinning and climatic conditions. Form.Globose. Suture.Nearly smooth. Ventral surface.Nearly smooth. Apex.Slightly retuse. Base.Slightly retuse. Stem cavity.Rounded to slightly elongated in suture plane. Average depth 11.3 mm. Average diameter 8.0 mm. Stem: Size.Small to medium. Average length 9.1 mm. Average diameter 4.2 mm. Color.Varies from 10Y 6/8 to 2.5GY 6/8. Flesh: Ripens.Evenly. Texture.Firm, meaty, crisp. Fibers.Few, small, tender. Firmness.Firm, comparable to other commercial nectarine varieties. Aroma.Slight. Amydgalin.Undetected. Eating quality.Good. Flavor.Good, having a good balance between acid and sugar. Juice.Moderate amount, enhances flavor. Acidity.Not available. Brix.Average Brix 12.0, varies slightly with amount of fruit per tree and climatic conditions. Color.Varies from 2.5Y 8.5/8 to 5Y 8/8 with 7.5R 3/12 anthocyanin color bleeding from pit cavity. Pit cavity.Average length 40.3 mm. Average width 27.1 mm. Average depth 11.3 mm. Color varies from 2.5Y 8/10 to 7.5R 3/10. Skin: Thickness.Medium. Surface.Smooth. Pubescence.Wanting. Tendency to crack.None. Color.Ground color varies from 2.5Y 9/4 to 5Y 8/8. Overspread with 7.5R 3/12 to 7.5R 2/8. Tenacity.Tenacious to the flesh. Astringency.None. Stone: Type.Clingstone, strong adherence to flesh. Size.Large. Average length 39.3 mm. Average width 26.1 mm. Average thickness 20.5 mm. Form.Ovoid. Base.Flat. Apex.Pointed. Average length 2.1 mm. Surface.Pitted throughout, pits vary from rounded to elongated. Sides.Unequal, one side extending further outward from suture plane. Ridges.Small, narrow ridges extending from base toward apex. Tendency to split.None. Color.Varies from 5YR 5/6 to 7.5YR 5/6 when dry. Kernel: Size.Large. Average length 20.6 mm. Average width 11.8 mm. Average depth 7.3 mm. Form.Ovate. Viability.Viable, complete embryo development. Skin color.Varies from 5Y 8.5/6 to 5Y 8/8. Use: Dessert.Market local and long distance. Keeping quality: Good, held firm in cold storage 3 weeks at 38 to 42 F. without shriveling, internal breakdown of flesh or appreciable loss of flavor. Shipping quality: Good, showed minimal skin scarring or flesh bruising during picking, packing and shipping trials. Plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility: No specific testing for relative plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility has been designed. Under close observation during planting, growing, and harvesting of fruit, under normal cultural and growing conditions near Modesto, Calif., no particular plant/fruit disease resistance or susceptibility has been observed. Any variety or selection observed during indexing of plant characteristics with abnormal fungus, bacterial, virus or insect susceptibility is destroyed and eliminated from our breeding program. No atypical resistances/susceptibilities have been noted under normal cultural practices.

(3) The present new variety of nectarine tree, its flowers, foliage and fruit herein described may vary in slight detail due to climate, soil conditions and cultural practices under which the variety may be grown. The present description is that of the variety grown under the ecological conditions prevailing near Modesto, Calif.