USPP2930P - Peach tree - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 7, 1969 ARMSTRONG Plant Pat. 2,930

PEACH TREE Filed Feb. 29, 1968 United States Patent 2,930 PEACH TREE David L. Armstrong, Ontario, Calif assignor to Armstrong Nurseries, Inc.,, Ontario, Califi, a corporation of California Filed Feb. 29, 1968,,Ser. No. 709,504 Int. Cl. A01h 708 US. Cl. Plt.43 1. Claim The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of dwarf peach tree of'the yellow-fleshed, freestone, fruit-bearing type, which was originated by me as an open-pollinated seedling derived fromvopen-pollination of'an unnamed and' unpatented, tall peach variety and which was the result of crossing an unnamed and unpatented, tall peach variety, usedas theseed parent, X the peach variety known as Springtime (Plant Patent No. 1,268), used'as the pollen parent;

The-new variety is one which resulted from an extensive breeding program conducted by me with the objective of producing improved, yellow-fleshed, freestone peach varieties having a dwarf tree habit and bearing fruit which ripens in various seasons. This objective was fully achieved in the new variety, along with other desirable features, as evidenced by the following unique combination of characteristics which are outstanding in the new variety and which distinguish it from its parent, as well as from all other peach varieties of which I am aware:

(1) A vigorous, compact, bushy, dwarf tree habit, with'stem internodes averaging approximately /4 inch in length, and having leaves of relatively normal or larger size and appearance for peach and nectarine varieties, and giving the tree an attractive, densely foliaged appearance, while attaining aheight of about five to six feet in about ten years with little or no pruning;

(2) Showy, pale to light pink, single'flowers;

('3) A moderate chilling requirement falling between that of Springtime peach (Plant Patent No. 1,268) and Tejon peach (unpatented);

(4) Heavy fruit crop production in California;v

(5) Medium sized, nearly round to somewhat laterally compressed, yellow-fleshed, freestone fruit'of good quality and flavor, with moderate amount of red color in the flesh near the pit cavity;

('6) A moderate amount of pubescence on the skin of the fruit;

(7) An attractive skin color ranging from near Canary Yellow to near Buttercup Yellow, all lightly overlaid with a moderate amount of near Delft Rose to Rose Opal, with the amount of red color being only slight where fully covered by dense foliage during ripening, but increasing to over fifty percent red color where more fully exposed to light; and

(8) A fruit'ripening period generally occurring in late July to early August at Wasco, Calif, and usually ripening from a few days to a week or ten days ahead of Elberta peach (unpatented). v

The unnamed seed parent of the new variety was a tall peach variety having a relatively low chilling requirement and which bore yellow-fleshed, freestone. fruit which ripened in the'medium early season, .with the fruit being of medium size, nearly round, moderately red colored and having good quality and flavor. In comparison with this parent, the new variety primarily differs therefrom by having a dwarf tree habit, and the fruit of the new variety ripens several weeks later than the fruit of this parent.

As compared with the ancestorsof this seed parent, which were Flamingo peach (Plant Patent No. 6-61), Babcock peach- (unpatented), Double-Pink peach (unpatented), Rio Oso Gem peach-( Plant Patent No. 84) and Chinese- Dwarf peach (Unpatented-identified as PI No. 41,395), the new variety diflersfrom Flamingo peach. primarily byhaving a dwarf instead of a: tall treehabit, and the fruit of the new variety ripens several'weeks earlier; the new-varietydiifers primarily from' Babcock peach byhavinga dwarf tree habit instead of the tall habit of Babcock peach, and the fruit of the new variety is yellow-fleshed instead of white-fleshed and ripens several weeks later; the new variety differs from Double Pink peach byhaving a dwarf instead of a tall tree habit, with single instead of double flowers, and the fruit ripens considerably earlier and has good quality as compared to the very low quality fruit which i's typical of flowering peaches such -as'Double Pink; the new variety'prirnarily' ditfers'from Rio Oso Gem peach by having a dwarf instead ofa tall tree habit, with a lowerchilling requirementg andthe fruit of the new variety ripens severalweeks earlier; and the new variety primarily differs from ChineseDwarf peach by its skin color being attractively coloredyellow and some red, fruit which is yellow-fleshed; freeston'e and midseason 'ripeningcompared to the pea green skin color, whiteflesh, clingstone 'and late ripening fruit of"-Chinese Dwarf.

The new variety also differs from the dwarf peach variety known as Bonanza (Plant Patent No. 2,213) primarily" by ripening of'the fruitof the'n'ew variety from six to eight weeks later, a somewhat lower chilling requirement,.and pale to light pink, single flowers compared to the semi-double pink flowers of"Bonanza':-

Asexual reproduction of my new variety by budding, as performed by me at Wasco, Calif, shows that the foregoing characteristicsrand distinctions-come true to'form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations.

The accompanying drawing shows typical specimens of the foliage, stem, fruit and stone: of my new variety, with both exterior and sectional views ofthe fruit being shown, and all of said views being depicted infcolor as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make-the same in a color illustration of this character.

The following is'a detailed;description of mynew variety, as based upon observationsrof specimens grown at Wasco, Calif, lwithcolor terminology in: accordance with Robert F. Wilsons Horticultural Colour'Chart (hereinafter abbreviated as: (W)) and Ridgways- Color Standards and Nomenclature (hereinafter abbreviated as (R) except where general color'terms of ordinary dictionary significance are obvious:

TREE

Habit: Vigorous; upright=spreading; compact; bushy; dwarf; stern internodes average approximately 4 inch long; leaves relatively normal or larger size andappearance for peach varieties.

Chilling requirement: About equal to that of Tejon peach.

Fruit production: Bears heavy, fruit crops when grown in southern California.

3 Current growth:

Surface texture-Smooth at first, with lenticels small and minute; some larger, cracked, slightly raised lenticels appear toward the base of the more vigorous shoots as they age.

Colr.Green or reddish on exposed surfaces at first, with lenticels appearing as small, near white dots, all becoming more brown with age.

Two-year wood:

Surface texture-Somewhat bumpy and rough effect from raised nodes and buds and their closeness together on the stem; otherwise internodes generally smooth, with some slightly raised lenticels and irregular, longitudinal striations.

Colon-Brown, but sometimes reddish brown.

Old wood:

Surface texture.-With increasing diameter of the stem, the bumpiness and rough elfect from the nodes and buds become less as they are covered by the growth of the stem, becoming more smooth over all with moderate number of raised lenticels and some small longitudinal fissures.

Colon-From grey to grayish brown or reddish brown on more exposed surfaces.

Leaves:

Size.From 6 inches to 9 inches long; from 1 inch to 1% inches wide.

Shape.Lanceolate, with apex acuminate.

Color (mature).--Upper surface near Forest Green,, Plate XVII (R). Under surface-near Chromium Green, Plate XXXII (R).

Petiole.Medium length; medium thickness.

Margin.-Finely serrate; glandular.

Glands.Mostly reniform, but few near globose, and occasionally no glands; small size; usually 2 or 3, but rarely 4 in number; usually borne on the base of the blade or just at the point of connection of the blade with the petiole.

Vegetative buds:

Size.-Small.

Shape.--Ovoid, unless compressed between flower buds.

Scales.--Pubescence thick; moderate length.

Colon-Dark brown.

FLOWERS Dates of first and full bloom: Over a seven-year period of observation at Wasco, Calif, first bloom ranged from February 23 to March 4, and full bloom ranged from March 3 to March 10.

Dormant flower buds:

Shape.0void.

Scales.-Pubescent.

Colon-Dark brown, with pubescence giving a whitish effect.

Size (when fully open).-Showy; medium size; about 1- /2 inches in diameter.

Petalage.-Single; usually 5 petals.

Form.Cupped.

Color (open flower).-From pale pink to light pink.

FRUIT Ripening dates: Generally ripenslate July to early August at Wasco, Calif; over seven years of observation, first ripening ranged from July 19 to August 8; usually ripens from a few days to a week or ten days ahead of \Elberta peach.

Maturity when described: Tree-ripe.

Size: Generally medium size.

Axial diameter.From 2% inches to 2% inches. Transverse diameter in suture plane.From 2% inches to 2 inches. Transverse diameter at right angles to suture plane.-

From 2 /2 inches to 2% inches.

Form: Somewhat variable; near globose, but usually somewhat compressed laterally toward suture.

Suture: Usually shallow; extending from base to apex;

slight depression beyond pistil point.

Ventral surface: Rounded; slightly lipped throughout,

with lips unequal.

Stern cavity: Somewhat rounded, but elongated in suture plane, with suture showing on one side.

Depth.About /8 inch.

Width.--From inch to inch.

Base: Rounded.

Apex: Rounded; sometimes depressed; pistil point usually very short, but often insignificant.

Stern: Medium caliper; glabrous; weak adherence to stone.

Length-from about inch to /2 inch.

Skin:

Thickness.--Medium.

T exture.Medium.

Tenacity to flesh.--Free.

Pubescence.-Moderate amount; medium length.

C0l0r.--Ground color ranges from near Canary Yellow, Plate 2/ 3, page 2 (W) to near Buttercup Yellow, Plate 5/3, page 5 (W), all lightly overlaid with flecks, streaks, mottling and blushes of from near Delft Rose, Plate 020/3, page 108 (W) to near Rose Opal, Plate 022/1, page 110 (W), and amount of red coloring varies from very little where completely covered with foilage, to over 50% of the skin area Where well exposed to light; illustrated fruit specimens were relatively well covered by foliage.

Flesh: I

Quality-Medium firm; melting; fine tender fibers.

Aroma-Pronounced.

Flav0r.-Subacid; good balance between sugar and acid.

Colon-Between Indian Yellow, Plate 6/2, page 6 (W) and Saifron Yellow, Plate 7/ 1, page 7 (W), with specks and streaks of near Crimson, Plate 22/1, page 22 (W), in area near pit cavity; surface of pit cavity from near Crimson, Plate 22/ 1, page 22 (W), to near Rose Opal, Plate 022/1, page 110 (W).

Stone:

Tenacity of flesh-Free.

Size.--Medium; from about 1% inches to 1% inches long; from about inch to 1% inches wide; from about inch to inch thick.

Form.Ovoid.

Base-Somewhat oblique.

Hilum.Oval.

A pex.--From acute to acuminate.

Sides.Slightly unequal; irregularly furrowed toward apex and sometimes near base; pitted from base to past center.

Ventral edge.Medium thickness; varies with or without wing.

Dorsal edge-Narrow, shallow groove from base to past center; ridges on either side interrupted.

Color.-Between Cacao Brown, Plate XXVIII (R) and Pecan Brown, Plate XXVIII (R).

I claim:

1. A new and distinct variey of dwarf peach tree of the yellow-fleshed, freestone, fruit-bearing type, substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by the unique combination of a vigorous, compact, bushy, dwarf tree habit, with stem internodes averaging approximately A inch in length, and having leaves of relatively normal or larger size and appearance for peach and nectarine varieties, and giving the tree an attractive, densely foliaged appearance, while attaining a height of about five to six feet in about ten years with little or no pruning, showy, pale to light pink, single flowers, a moderate chilling requirement falling between that of Springtime peach (Plant Patent No. 1,268) and .alllluwlll Tejon peach (unpatented), heavy fruit crop production in southern California, medium sized, nearly round to somewhat laterally compressed, yellow-fleshed, freestone fruit of good quality and flavor, with a moderate amountof red color in the flesh near the pit cavity, a moderate amount of pubescence on the skin of the fruit, an attractive skin color ranging from near Canary Yellow to near Buttercup Yellow, all lightly overlaid with a moderate amount of near Delft Rose to Rose Opal, with covered by dense foliage during ripening, but increasing to over fifty percent red color where more fully exposed to light, and a fruit ripening period generally occurring in late July to early August at Wasco, Calif., and usually ripening from a few days to a week or ten days ahead of Elberta peach (unpatented).

No references cited.

the amount of red color being only slight where fully 10 ROBERT GWILL, Primary Examiner

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