Peach tree named ‘Snow Baby’

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. The tree being a regular and productive bearer of large size, white flesh fruit. 2. The tree with vigorous, upright growth. 3. Producing fruit with an attractive dark red skin color. 4. Fruit with good flavor and eating quality with a mild, sweet, sub-acid flavor. 5. Fruit with good storage and shipping 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 5 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 5 year old specimens grown near Modesto, Calif., with color in accordance with Munsell Book of Color. 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 with soil type, fertility and climatic conditions. Form.Upright, usually pruned to vase shape. Branching habit.Upright, crotch angle approximately 30, increases with heavy crop load. Productivity.Productive, fruit thinning and spacing necessary for desired market size. Fruit set varies with climatic conditions during bloom season. Bearer.Regular, adequate fruit set 3 consecutive years. No alternate bearing observed. Fertility.Self fertile. Density.Medium dense, usually pruned to vase shape to allow more sunlight 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 600 hours at or below 45 F. Trunk: Size.Medium. Average circumference 55.9 cm at 20.3 cm above ground on a 5 year old tree. Stocky.Medium stocky. Texture.Medium shaggy, roughness increases with age. Color.Varies from 5Y 5/2 to 5Y 4/2. Branches: Size.Medium. Average circumference 10.9 cm at 1.0 meter 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 of growth. Lenticels.Large. Average number 21 in a 25.8 sq cm section. Average length 4.1 mm. Average width 1.9 mm. Color varies from 10YR 6/8 to 10YR 5/8. Color.New growth varies from 5GY 6/6 to 5R 3/8 where exposed to the sun. Mature growth varies from 5YR 5/2 to 5YR 2/4, varies with age of growth. Leaves: Size.Large. Average length 133.6 mm. Average width 41.1 mm. Form.Lanceolate. Apex.Acuminate. Base.Cuneate. Margin.Serrate. Thickness.Medium. Surface texture.Upper surface relatively smooth, slightly indented over midrib and leaf veins. Lower surface relatively smooth except for small ridges created by midrib and pinnate venation. Both surfaces glabrous. Petiole.Average length 10.7 mm. Average width 1.5 mm. Color 5GY 4/8. Longitudinally grooved. Surface glabrous. Glands.Type reniform. Size medium to large. Average length 1.1 mm. Average diameter 0.9 mm. Average number 3, varies from 2 to 4. Located primarily on base of leaf blade and upper portion of petiole. Color varies from 2.5GY 6/6 to 5GY 5/6. Stipules.Average length 7.8 mm. Average number 2. Margin pectinate. Color 5GY 5/6. Color.Upper surface varies from 10GY 3/4 to 7.5GY 3/4. Lower surface varies from 10GY 4/4 to 7.5GY 4/4. Midvein color varies from 5GY 8/4 to 2.5GY 6/4. Flower buds: Size.Large. Average length 18.2 mm. Average diameter 11.3 mm. Hardiness.Hardy with respect to California winters. Density.Medium. Form.Plump, conical, becoming elongated before opening. Pedicel.Average length 4.7 mm. Average width 1.2 mm. Color varies from 2.5GY 5/6 to 5GY 6/6. Surface glabrous. Color.Varies from 7.5RP 7/8 to 5RP 7/10. Flowers: Blooming period.Date of First Bloom Feb. 27, 2011. Date of Petal Fall Mar. 7, 2011, varies slightly with climatic conditions. Size.Large, showy. Average height 19.9 mm. Average diameter 32.2 mm. Petals.Normally 5, alternately arranged to sepals. Size large. Average length 17.9 mm. Average width 18.7 mm. Form orbicular. Arrangement overlapping. Petal apex rounded. Petal base rounded to somewhat truncated. Margin sinuate. Both upper and lower surfaces glabrous. Color varies from 2.5RP 9/2 to 5RP 7/8, fades with age of flower. Both upper and lower surfaces glabrous. Sepals.Normally 5, alternately arranged to petals. Size large. Average length 5.9 mm. Average width 5.7 mm. Shape triangular, apex rounded. Margin entire. Upper surface- glabrous. Lower surface pubescent. Color upper surface varies from 2.5GY 6/8 to 7.5R 2/6. Lower surface varies from 2.5R 2/8 to 10Y 6/6. Stamens.Average number per flower 40. Average filament length 15.2 mm. Filament color varies from N 9.5/(white) to 5RP 8/4, depending on age of flower. Anther color varies from 7.5R 2/8 to 5R 3/10. On average, the stamens are below the height of the petals. Pollen.Self fertile. Color varies from 2.5Y 8/14 to 5Y 8.5/10. Pistil.Normally one. Surface pubescent. Average length 16.7 mm. Position of stigma even with anthers. Ovary pubescent. Color varies from 7.5Y 8.5/10 to 5Y 8.5/8. Fragrance.Heavy aroma. Color.Varies from 2.5RP 9/2 to 5RP 7/8. Number flowers per flower bud.One. Pedicel.Average length 4.7 mm. Average width 1.3 mm. Color varies from 10Y 7/8 to 2.5GY 7/6. Fruit: Maturity when described.Firm ripe and ready for consumption. Date of first picking.Jun. 4, 2011. Date of last picking.Jun. 11, 2011, varies slightly with climatic conditions. Size.Large. Average diameter axially 59.4 mm. Average transversely in suture plane 73.3 mm. Average weight 201.6 grams, varies slightly with fertility of the soil, amount of thinning and climatic conditions. Form.Globose. Suture.Nearly smooth, extends from base to apex. Ventral surface.Very slightly lipped, nearly smooth. Apex.Slightly retuse. Base.Varies from flat to slightly retuse. Stem cavity.Rounded to slightly elongated in suture plane. Average depth 6.9 mm. Average diameter 9.1 mm. Stem: Size.Medium. Average length 10.9 mm. Average diameter 4.0 mm. Color.Varies from 2.5GY 6/8 to 2.5GY 5/8. Flesh: Ripens.Evenly. Texture.Firm, meaty. Fibers.Few, small, tender. Firmness.Good, comparable to other commercial varieties. Aroma.Slight. Amydgalin.Undetected. Eating quality.Good. Flavor.Good, mild, sweet, sub-acid. Juice.Moderate amount, enhances flavor. Acidity.Not available. Brix.Average Brix 11.2, varies slightly with amount of fruit per tree and climatic conditions. Color.Varies from 10Y 9/1 to 7.5Y 9/2. The anthocyanin coloration next to the skin and the slight bleeding into the flesh near the stone varies from 2.5R 5/6 to 2.5R 5/8. Pit cavity.Average length 33.0 mm. Average width 25.0 mm. Average depth 11.0 mm. Color varies from 10Y 8.5/4 to 2.5GY 7/4. Skin: Thickness.Medium. Surface.Smooth. Pubescence.Moderate amount, short in length. Tendency to crack.None. Color.Ground color varies. from 2.5Y 9/2 to 2.5Y 8.5/2. Overspread with 5R 3/4 to 2.5R 3/4. Tenacity.Tenacious to flesh. Astringency.Undetected. Stone: Type.Clingstone, strong adherence to flesh. Size.Large. Average length 32.1 mm. Average width 23.9 mm. Average thickness 20.0 mm. Form.Ovoid. Base.Flat. Apex.Pointed. Average length 2.7 mm. Surface.Pitted throughout, pits vary from round to elongated. Sides.Unequal, one side extending further from suture plane. Ridges.Relatively smooth, extending from base to apex. Tendency to split.None. Color.Varies from 7.5YR 7/6 to 10YR 7/2 when dry. Anthocyanin coloration varies from 2.5R 4/8 to 2.5R 4/10 when first exposed from the flesh. Kernel: Size.Large. Average length 15.9 mm. Average width 10.8 mm. Average depth 6.2 mm. Form.Ovoid. Viability.Viable, complete embryo development. Skin.Color varies from 7.5Y 9/4 to 10Y 9/2. Use: Dessert. Market.Local and long distance. Keeping quality: Good, held firm in cold storage at 38 to 42 F. for 3 weeks without internal breakdown of flesh or appreciable loss of flavor. Shipping quality: Good, 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. 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.