Peach tree named ‘Rich Pride’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of peach tree (Prunus persica). 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. Vigorous, upright growth of tree. 2. Regular and productive bearer of large size fruit. 3. Fruit with an attractive red skin color. 4. Fruit with firm, yellow flesh. 5. Fruit with very good flavor and eating quality. 6. Fruit with good storage and handling quality.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of peach tree, (Prunus persica) 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 peach 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 peach 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 the first growing season. Varies slightly with soil type, fertility of soil and climatic conditions. 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 marketable size. Fruit set varies with climatic conditions during bloom time. Bearer.Regular, has had adequate fruit set 7 consecutive years. No alternate bearing observed. Fertility.Self-fertile. Density.Medium dense, pruning to vase shape desirable for sunlight penetration to center of tree 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 850 hours at or below 45 F. Trunk: Size.Large. Average circumference 53.3 cm at 30.5 cm above ground on a 9 year old tree. Stocky.Medium stocky. Texture.Medium shaggy, becoming rougher with age. Color.Varies from 2.5Y 4/2 to 5Y 4/2. Branches: Size.Medium. Average circumference 14.2 cm at 1.1 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 51 in a 25.8 sq cm section. Average length 3.0 mm. Average width 1.7 mm. Color varies from 10YR 8/8 to 2.5Y 8/8. Color.New growth varies from 2.5GY 5/6 to 5GY 6/6. Old growth varies from 10YR 3/2 to 10YR 3/4, varies with age of growth. Leaves: Size.Large. Average length 159.7 mm. Average width 45.4 mm. Form.Lanceolate. Apex.Acuminate. Base.Cuneate. Margin.Serrulate. Thickness.Medium. Surface texture.Upper surface relatively smooth, slight indentation 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 11.6 mm. Average width 1.8 mm. Longitudinally grooved. Surface glabrous. Color varies from 2.5GY 5/6 to 2.5GY 5/8. Glands.Type reniform. Size large. Average length 1.3 mm. Average width 1.2 mm. Average number 3, varies from 1 to 4. Located primarily on the base of leaf the blade and upper portion of the petiole. Color varies from 2.5GY 5/6 to 2.5GY 5/8. Stipules.Average number 2. Average length 11.7 mm. Edges pectinate. Color varies from 2.5GY 5/8 to 5GY 5/6. Color.Upper surface varies from 5GY 3/6 to 5GY 3/4. Lower surface varies from 5GY 4/4 to 5GY 3/4. Midvein color varies from 2.5GY 7/6 to 2.5GY 6/6. Flower Buds: Size.Large. Average length 20.8 mm. Average width 10.3 mm. Hardiness.Hardy with respect to California winters. Form.Conical, becoming elongated before opening. Pedicel.Average length 5.6 mm. Average width 1.2 mm. Color varies from 2.5GY 7/6 to 2.5GY 5/6. Color.Varies from 7.5RP 6/10 to 5RP 7/10. Flowers: Blooming period.Date of First Bloom Feb. 27, 2012. Date of Petal Fall Mar. 9, 2012, varies slightly with climatic conditions. Size.Large, showy: Average height 24.9 mm. Average diameter 61.7 mm. Petals.Normally 5, alternately arranged to sepals. Form orbicular, narrows at point of attachment. Petal apex rounded. Petal base acuminate. Size large. Average length 29.6 mm. Average width 25.3 mm. Arrangement free. Margin sinuate. Color varies from 5RP 7/6 to 5RP 9/2, color fades with age of flower. Both upper and lower surfaces glabrous. Sepals.Normally 5, alternately arranged to petals. Size large. Average length 8.0 mm. Average width 7.5 mm. Shape ovate, apex rounded. Margin entire. Surface upper surface glabrous, lower surface pubescent. Color upper surface varies from 5GY 5/6 to 7.5R 3/4. Lower surface varies from 5R 3/2 to 5R 2/4. Stamens.Average number per flower 42. Average filament length 18.8 mm. On average, the stamens are below the height of the petals. Filment color varies from N 9.5/(white) to 5RP 7/4. Anther color varies from 5Y 8/8 to 7.5R 4/8. Pollen.Self fertile. Color varies from 2.5Y 7/10 to 2.5Y 6/10. Pistil.Number normally 1. Surface pubescent. Average length 21.3 mm. Position of stigma an average of 1.3 mm below anthers. Surface pubescent. Color varies from 10Y 8/6 to 10Y 7/6. Fragrance.Wanting. Color.Varies from 5RP 8/4 to 5RP 7/6. Number flowers per flower bud.Normally 1. Pedicel.Average length 6.0 mm. Average width 1.4 mm. Color varies from 2.5GY 6/6 to 5GY 5/6. Fruit: Maturity when described.Firm ripe and ready for consumption. Date of first picking.Jun. 23, 2012. Date of last picking.Jul. 1, 2012, varies slightly with climatic conditions. Size.Large. Average diameter axially 71.5 mm. Average transversely in suture plane 82.5 mm. Average weight 275.5 grams, varies slightly with fertility of the soil, amount of thinning and climatic conditions. Form.Globose. Suture.Distinct, extends from base to apex. Ventral surface.Relatively smooth. Apex.Rounded to very slight tip. Base.Retuse. Stem cavity.Rounded to slightly elongated in suture plane. Average depth 11.9 mm. Average diameter 10.2 mm. Stem: Size.Medium. Average length 11.8 mm. Average diameter 3.3 mm. Color.Varies from 2.5GY 6/6 to 2.5GY 8/8. Flesh: Ripens.Relatively even, slightly earlier at the apex. Texture.Firm, meaty, crisp. Fibers.Few, small, tender. Firmness.Firm, comparable to other commercial varieties. Aroma.Slight. Amydgalin.Undetected. Eating quality.Very good. Flavor.Very good. Juice.Moderate amount, enhances flavor. Acidity.Not available. Brix.Average Brix 10.5, varies slightly with amount of fruit per tree and climatic conditions. Color.Varies from 2.5Y 7/10 to 5Y 7/8. Pit cavity.Average length 42.0 mm. Average width 30.1 mm. Average depth 12.2 mm. Color varies from 5Y 8/12 to 5Y 7/10. Skin: Thickness.Medium. Surface.Relatively smooth. Pubescence.Moderate amount, very short. Tendency to crack.None. Color.Ground color varies from 2.5Y 8/10 to 5Y 8/8. Overspread with 7.5R 3/8 to 7.5R 3/10. Tenacity.Tenacious to flesh. Astringency.Undetected. Stone: Type.Clingstone, medium adherence to the stone. Size.Large. Average length 41.3 mm. Average width 29.6 mm. Average thickness 23.3 mm. Form.Ovoid. Base.Flat to slightly rounded. Apex.Pointed. Average length 3.3 mm. Surface.Pitted throughout, pits vary from round to elongated. Sides.Unequal, one side extending further from suture plane. Ridges.Small, narrow ridge extending from base toward apex. Tendency to split.None. Color.Varies from 10YR 6/6 to 10YR 6/8 when dry. Kernel: Size.Large. Average length 21.3 mm. Average width 12.4 mm. Average depth 7.3 mm. Form.Ovoid. 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 for 3 weeks at 38 to 42 F. without internal breakdown or appreciable loss of flavor. Shipping quality: Good, showed minimal skin scarring or bruising of flesh 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 peach 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.