Interspecific tree named ‘Bella Jean’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of interspecific tree. 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, yellow flesh fruit. 3. Fruit with very good flavor and eating quality. 4. Fruit with an attractive red skin color. 5. Fruit with a high degree of soluble solids (Brix) of 18.2.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of interspecific 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 interspecific 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 an 8 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 interspecific tree, its flowers, foliage and fruit, as based on observations of 8 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. Varies with different cultural practices. Vigor.Vigorous, tree growth of approximately 1.5 to 2 meters in height the first growing season. Varies with cultural practices, 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 market size. Fruit set varies with climatic conditions during bloom time. Bearer.Regular, adequate fruit set 6 consecutive years. No alternate bearing observed. Fertility.Self-sterile, pollinator required. Density.Medium dense, usually pruned to vase shape to increase air movement and sunlight to center of tree to enhance fruit color and health of fruit spurs. Hardiness.Hardy in all stone fruit growing areas of California. Tree grown in USDA Hardiness Zone 9. Winter chilling requirement approximately 700 hours at or below 45 F. Trunk: Size.Medium. Average circumference 50.8 cm at 25.4 cm above ground on a 8 year old tree. Stocky.Medium stocky. Texture.Medium shaggy, roughness increases with age. Color.Varies from 10YR 4/2 to 2.5Y 4/2. Branches: Size.Medium. Average circumference 11.2 cm at 1.2 meters above ground on a 8 year old tree. 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 59 in a 25.8 square cm area. Average length 3.9 mm. Average width 1.7 mm. Color varies from 7.5YR 4/6 to 7.5YR 4/8. Color.New growth varies from 5GY 6/6 to 5GY 5/6. Mature growth varies from 7.5YR 3/2 to 10YR 3/4, varies with age of growth. Leaves: Size.Large. Average length 138.5 mm. Average width 67.7 mm. Form.Obovate. Apex.Acuminate. Base.Cuneate. Margin.Crenate. 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.Small. Average length 11.9 mm. Average width 1.9 mm. Surface pubescent. Longitudinally grooved. Color varies from 5GY 4/8 to 5GY 5/8. Glands.Type globose. Size medium to large. Average length 1.1 mm. Average diameter 0.8 mm. Located primarily on the base of the leaf blade and the upper portion of the petiole. Color varies from 5YR 4/6 to 5YR 3/6. Stipules.None present at time of measurement. Color.Upper surface varies from 5GY 3/4 to 5GY 3/6. Lower surface varies from 5GY 4/4 to 2.5GY 5/4. Midvein color varies from 10Y 8/4 to 2.5GY 7/4. Flower buds: Size.Medium. Average length 9.0 mm. Average diameter 6.0 mm. Hardiness.Hardy in all stone fruit growing areas of California. Density.Medium dense. Form.Conical, becoming elongated just before opening. Pedicel.Average length 6.7 mm. Average width 0.7 mm. Surface glabrous. Color varies from 2.5GY 6/8 to 5GY 7/8. Color.N 9.5/(white). Number of buds per spur.Varies from 4 to 10, average number 7. Flowers: Blooming period.Date of First Bloom Mar. 1, 2015. Date of Petal Fall Mar. 11, 2015, varies slightly with climatic conditions. Size.Medium. Average height 9.5 mm. Average diameter 18.6 mm. Petals.Normally 5, alternately arranged to sepals. Size medium. Average length 10.3 mm. Average width 6.6 mm. Petal apex rounded. Petal base truncate. Form elliptical to globose. Arrangement free. Margin sinuate. Color N 9.5/(white). Both upper and lower surfaces glabrous. Sepals.Normally 5, alternately arranged to petals. Size small to medium. Average length 3.5 mm. Average width 2.4 mm. Shape triangular. Apex ovate to triangular. Margin entire. Both upper and lower surfaces glabrous. Color upper surface varies from 5GY 6/8 to 5GY 7/4. Lower surface varies from 5GY 5/8 to 2.5GY 6/10. Stamens.Average number per flower 33. Average filament length 7.9 mm. On average the stamens are above the height of the petals. Filament color N 9.5/(white). Anther color varies from 2.5Y 7/8 to 5Y 8/8. Pollen.Self-sterile, pollinator required. Color varies from 2.5Y 7/10 to 5Y 7/10. Pistil.Number normally one. Surface pubescent. Average length 9.2 mm. Position of stigma even with anthers. Color varies from 2.5GY 8/6 to 2.5GY 7/6. Fragrance.Heavy aroma. Color.N 9.5/(white). Pedicel.Average length 7.3 mm. Average width 0.8 mm. Color 2.5GY 6/8. Number flowers per flower bud.Average number 3, varies from 2 to 4. Fruit: Maturity when described.Firm ripe and ready for consumption. Date of first picking.Jul. 6, 2015. Date of last picking.Jul. 16, 2015, varies slightly with climatic conditions. Size.Large. Average diameter axially 59.6 mm. Average transversely in suture plane 65.3 mm. Average weight 164.7 grams, varies slightly with fertility of the soil, amount of thinning and climatic conditions. Form.Globose. Suture.Some fruit with slight suture, extends from base to apex. Ventral surface.Nearly smooth. Apex.Rounded. Base.Retuse. Stem cavity.Rounded to slightly elongated in suture plane. Average depth 4.1 mm. Average diameter 4.8 mm. Stem: Size.Small to medium. Average length 9.6 mm. Average diameter 2.0 mm. Color.Varies from 10Y 6/6 to 5YR 3/6. Flesh: Ripens.Evenly. Texture.Firm, meaty. Fibers.Few, small, tender. Firmness.Firm, comparable to other commercial interspecific varieties. Aroma.Very slight. Amydgalin.Undetected. Eating quality.Very good. Flavor.Very good, good balance between acid and sugar. Juice.Heavy amount, enhances flavor. Acidity.Not available. Brix.Average Brix 18.2, varies slightly with amount of fruit per tree and climatic conditions. Color.Varies from 10YR 7/8 to 7.5R 4/10. Pit cavity.Average length 29.0 mm. Average width 20.1 mm. Average depth 6.2 mm. Color varies from 7.5YR 4/12 to 10R 5/12. Skin: Thickness.Medium. Surface.Smooth. Pubescence.Moderate amount, very short in length. Tendency to crack.None. Color.Ground color varies from 10YR 6/8 to 7.5YR 6/10. Overspread with 7.5R 3/6 to 7.5R 3/8. Tenacity.Tenacious to the flesh. Astringency.Slight to none. Stone: Type.Clingstone, medium adherence to flesh. Size.Medium. Average length 28.0 mm. Average width 19.1 mm. Average thickness 10.4 mm. Form.Ovoid. Base.Flat. Apex.Pointed. Average length 1.7 mm. Surface.Slightly pitted throughout. Sides.Unequal, one side extending further from suture plane. Ridges.Very narrow, small ridge near groove on each side of suture, extends from base to apex. Tendency to split.None. Color.Varies from 7.5YR 7/6 to 7.5YR 6/8 when dry. Kernel: Size.Small to medium. Average length 14.3 mm. Average width 9.8 mm. Average depth 4.4 mm. Form.Ovoid. Viability.Viable, complete embryo development. Skin color.Varies from 2.5Y 8/6 to 2.5Y 8.5/6. 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 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 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 interspecific 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.