USPP34791P3

USPP34791P3 - Nectarine tree named ‘SWEET REI’

Info

Publication number: USPP34791P3
Application number: US16/501,998
Authority: US
Inventors: Chukichi Takahashi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-07-23
Filing date: 2019-07-18
Publication date: 2022-12-06
Also published as: US20200029482P1

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of white nectarine tree (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch var. nucipersica (Suckow) C.K. Schneid.) denominated ‘SWEET REI’, characterized by being late-maturing, having high Brix and relatively low acidity white flesh, excellent eating quality fruit, being easy to eat because of its freestone fruit, having an attractive dark-red fruit skin color, and no deterioration of eating quality of fruit even after storage for two weeks in a refrigerator.

Description

Botanical classification: Prunus persica (L.) Batsch var. nucipersica (Suckow) C.K. Schneid.

Variety denomination: ‘SWEET REI’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Plant Variety Registration Application No. 33273 filed on Jul. 23, 2018, which is incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of white nectarine tree (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch var. nucipersica (Suckow) C.K. Schneid.), which has been given the variety denomination ‘SWEET REI’. This novel variety was found by natural hybridization of the seed parent variety ‘SWEET VENUS’ (Japanese Plant Variety Registration No. 12301, registered on Nov. 8, 2004), in Tsukidate-cho, Date-city, Fukushima-prefecture, Japan.

This new white nectarine produces fruits, which are late-maturing, having high brix and relatively low acidity white flesh as well as attractive dark-red skin color, excellent eating quality, and are easy to eat because of its freestone flesh.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

As stated above, the new variety of white nectarine ‘SWEET REI’ was obtained from natural hybridization of ‘SWEET VENUS’ (Japanese Plant Variety Registration No. 12301, registered on Nov. 8, 2004), the seed parent of the present variety, in Tsukidate-cho, Date-city, Fukushima-prefecture, Japan, where it was tested.

In 2011, ‘SWEET VENUS’ was open-pollinated in the inventor's orchard in Tsukidate-cho, Date-city, Fukushima-prefecture, Japan, and 10 of its natural hybrid seeds were seeded and the resultant seedlings were grown at the orchard.

Five (5) germinated seedlings of the above-obtained seedlings were further grown, and the first fruits were observed in 2013. Among the 5 trees from the germinated seedlings, the inventor selected one tree as a mother tree because of its characteristics as having high brix (sweet) and relatively low acidity, excellent eating quality, and easy to eat fruits. In 2014, the second generation of the mother tree was grown by asexual reproduction by grafting onto a wild white-flowered peach tree rootstock (non-patented, being indigenous on a mountain in Tsukidate-cho, Date-city, Fukushima-prefecture, Japan), and the observation of the characteristics of the second generation tree was started. The asexually propagated tree remained true to the original tree (i.e., mother tree), and all characteristics of the tree and fruits of the mother tree were transmitted. In 2017, this new variety was denominated by the inventor as ‘SWEET REI’.

The above-identified mother tree and the second generation tree of ‘SWEET REI’ have been maintained in Tsukidate-cho, Date-city, Fukushima-prefecture, Japan.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The new white nectarine variety ‘SWEET REI’ exhibits outstanding and distinguishing characteristics when grown under normal nectarine cultivation practices, including:

- (1) high brix (Brix 15 to 17 degree), relatively low acidity, and white flesh fruit;
- (2) excellent eating quality fruit;
- (3) being easy to eat because of its freestone fruit;
- (4) attractive dark-red fruit skin color; and
- (5) no deterioration of eating quality of fruit even after storage for two weeks in a refrigerator.

The fruits of ‘SWEET REI’ is suitable for fruit gifts, such as fruit gift boxes or fruit baskets, since it has attractive dark-red skin color as well as excellent eating quality, and is easy to eat because of its freestone flesh.

In addition, since the fruit of ‘SWEET REI’ has high brix and relatively low acidity, it can also be used for preparation of processed fruits, such as fruit cake, fruit jelly, canned fruits, fruit juice and fruit jam.

For reliable description, the characteristics of ‘SWEET REI’ are described as compared to those of the yellow nectarine variety ‘SWEET VENUS’ (the seed parent of the present variety, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch var. nucipersica (Suckow) C.K. Schneid.) and the representative variety of white peach, ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’ (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch), its the attached Table 1 (Table of Characteristics).

As stated herein below and described in the attached Table of Characteristics, ‘SWEET REI’ has apparently different characteristics from those of the variety ‘SWEET VENUS’ and the variety ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’.

‘SWEET REI’ clearly differs from its seed parent variety ‘SWEET VENUS’, which has yellow, relatively firm and clingstone fruits, in that ‘SWEET REI’ has dark-red fruit skin color, white fruit flesh, and relatively soft, freestone and easy to eat fruit. Moreover, since ‘SWEET REI’ needs not being grown under plastic cover, its cultivation is easier than that of ‘SWEET VENUS’, which needs to be plastic covered.

In addition, ‘SWEET REI’ clearly differs from the representative variety of white peach ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’, which has Brix 13 degree, in that ‘SWEET REI’ has higher Brix (Brix 15 to 17 degree).

‘SWEET REI’ is in fact outstanding and readily identified as being such.

It should be noted that the plant age of all the plants of ‘SWEET REI’, which were observed and photographed for botanical description, was 3 years (except for the 7-year-old mother tree of ‘SWEET REI’ in FIG. 21 ).

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new white nectarine variety is illustrated by the accompanying digital color photographs, depicting defining characteristics of the plant by the best possible color photography. Colors of foliage, flowers, fruits and other plant parts may vary from year to year depending on, among other factors, nectarine cultivation practices, light conditions, air temperature, soil fertility, etc.

FIG. 1 illustrates a whole fruit of ‘SWEET REI’ fruiting on a tree (photographed date: Sep. 1, 2017; photographed location: Tsukidate-cho, Date-city, Fukushima-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’: 3 years).

FIG. 2 illustrates apexes of 6 fruits of ‘SWEET REI’ (photographed date: Aug. 31, 2017; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’: 3 years).

FIG. 3 illustrates lateral view of 6 fruits of ‘SWEET REI’ (photographed date: Aug. 31, 2017; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’: 3 years).

FIG. 4 illustrates stalk cavity of 6 fruits of ‘SWEET REI’ (photographed date: Aug. 31, 2017; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’: 3 years).

FIG. 5 illustrates 4 fruits of ‘SWEET REI’; 2 bagged fruits (left) and 2 not bagged fruits (right) (photographed date: Sep. 1, 2017; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’: 3 years).

FIG. 6 illustrates 4 fruit of ‘SWEET REI’ (left), ‘SWEET VENUS’ (middle) and ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’ (right), respectively (photographed date: Sep. 1, 2017; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’, ‘SWEET VENUS’ and ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’: 3 years).

FIG. 7 illustrates longitudinal section view of fruits of ‘SWEET REI’ (photographed date: Aug. 31, 2017; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’; 3 years).

FIG. 8 illustrates cross section view of 4 fruits of ‘SWEET REI’ (left), ‘SWEET VENUS’ (middle) and ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’ (right), respectively (photographed date: Sep. 1, 2017; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’, ‘SWEET VENUS’ and ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’: 3 years).

FIG. 9 illustrates 10 flowers of ‘SWEET REI’ (photographed date: Apr. 10, 2018; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’: 3 years).

FIG. 10 illustrates 10 flowers of ‘SWEET REI’ (5 flowers before fertilization (upper) and 5 flowers with fertilized ovule (lower)) (photographed date: Apr. 10, 2018; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’: 3 years).

FIG. 11 illustrates 4 flowers of ‘SWEET REI’ (left), ‘SWEET VENUS’ (middle) and ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’ (right), respectively (2 flowers before fertilization (upper) and 2 flowers with fertilized ovule (lower), respectively) (photographed date: Apr. 10, 2018; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’, ‘SWEET VENUS’ and ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’: 3 years).

FIG. 12 illustrates a close-up longitudinal section view of a flower of ‘SWEET REI’ (photographed date: Apr. 10, 2018; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’: 3 years).

FIG. 13 illustrates a close-up longitudinal section view of a flower of ‘SWEET VENUS’ (photographed date: Apr. 10, 2018; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’: 3 years).

FIG. 14 illustrates a close-up longitudinal section view of a flower of ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’ (photographed date: Apr. 10, 2018; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’: 3 years).

FIG. 15 illustrates 10 flower petals of ‘SWEET REI’ (upper), ‘SWEET VENUS’ (middle) and ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’ (bottom), respectively (photographed date: Apr. 10, 2018; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’, ‘SWEET VENUS’ and ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’: 3 years).

FIG. 16 illustrates a branch of ‘SWEET REI’ with a number of leaves (photographed date: Sep. 1, 2017; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’: 3 years).

FIG. 17 illustrates a branch of ‘SWEET VENUS’ with a number of leaves (photographed date: Sep. 1, 2017; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET VENUS’: 3 years).

FIG. 18 illustrates a branch of ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’ with a number of leaves (photographed date: Sep. 1, 2017; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’: 3 years).

FIG. 19 illustrates 10 leaves of ‘SWEET REI’ (5 upper surface of leaves (upper) and 5 lower surface of leaves (lower)) (photographed date: Sep. 1, 2017; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’: 3 years).

FIG. 20 illustrates 4 leaves of ‘SWEET REI’ (left), ‘SWEET VENUS’ (middle) and ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’ (right), respectively (2 upper surface of leaves (left), and 2 lower surface of leaves (right), respectively) (photographed date: Sep. 1, 2017; photographed location: Higashine-city, Yamagata-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’, ‘SWEET VENUS’ and ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’: 3 years).

FIG. 21 illustrates a whole mother tree of ‘SWEET REI’ (photographed date: Sep. 1, 2017; photographed location: Tsukidate-cho, Date-city, Fukushima-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SWEET REI’: 7 years).

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed botanical description of the new variety of white nectarine, its tree, flower, foliage and fruit, as based on observations of 3 year old specimens grown in Tsukidate-cho, Date-city, Fukushima-prefecture, Japan, with color in accordance with The R.H.S. Colour Chart 2015.

1. Tree:
- - Size.—Medium (3 year old tree: Height: 5 to 3 m; Width: 3.5 to 4 m).
  - Vigor.—Medium vigorous.
  - Growth habit.—Semi-upright.
  - Tree shape.—Flared shape.
  - Hardiness.—USDA hardiness zone 8a.
  - Disease pest resistance/susceptibility.—Resistance to Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni.
  - Trunk diameter (at 50 cm height from ground).—18.9 cm.
  - Bark texture.—Smooth (8 year old tree).
  - Bark color.—Gray (RHS Code: 201D).
  - Trunk lenticel number.—0.7/cm².
  - Trunk lenticel shape.—Long ellipse.
  - Trunk lenticel height.—1.5 mm.
  - Trunk lenticel width.—3.0 mm.
  - Trunk lenticel color.—Gray-brown (RHS Code: N119C).
2. Shoot:
- - Shoot length.—22.0 cm.
  - Shoot diameter.—0.3 cm.
  - Shoot texture.—Smooth.
  - Shoot internode length.—2.4 cm.
  - Shoot color.—Green (RHS Code: 142C).
3. Leaves:
- - Time of leaf bud burst.—Medium, around March 25 (3 year old tree).
  - Leaf blade shape.—Lanceolate.
  - Leaf blade length.—Average length 18.61 cm.
  - Leaf blade width.—Average width 3.71 cm.
  - Leaf ratio of length/width.—Large (average 5.02).
  - Leaf blade shape in cross section.—Flat.
  - Leaf apex form.—Attenuate-acuminate.
  - Leaf margin.—Sawtoothed.
  - Recurvature of leaf blade apex.—Absent.
  - Shape (angle) at base of leaf blade.—Acute.
  - Leaf texture.—Smooth and glabrous on both surfaces.
  - Color of upper surface of mature leaf blade.—Dark Green (RHS Code: 136A).
  - Color of lower surface of mature leaf blade.—Strong Yellow Green (RHS Code: 144A).
  - Leaf venation pattern.—Pinnately veined, and having concavo-convex veins on lower surface of leaves.
  - Red mid-vein on lower surface of mature leaf blade.—Absent.
  - Petiole length.—Average length 1.34 cm.
  - Petiole diameter.—2 mm.
  - Petiole texture.—Smooth.
  - Color of petiole.—Green (RHS Code: 142C).
  - Nectaries on petiole of leaf.—Present.
  - Shape of nectaries on petiole of leaf.—Rounded and reniform.
  - Predominant number of nectaries on petiole of leaf.—More than two.
4. Flower buds:
- - Density of flower buds on the first-year flowering shoot.—Dense.
  - General distribution of flower buds on the first-year flowering shoot.—Distributed in groups of two or more.
  - Flower bud shape.—Conic in form with a round tip.
  - Flower bud length.—7.3 mm.
  - Flower bud diameter.—3.9 mm.
  - Flower bud color.—Light Greenish Grey (RHS Code: 188C).
5. Flowers:
- - Flower type.—Showy.
  - Flower height.—26 mm.
  - Flower diameter.—35 mm.
  - Flower fragrance.—Faint.
  - Calyx color of inner side (opened flower, before falling of petals).—Strong Yellowish Green (RHS Code: N144A).
  - Corolla: predominant color (inner side).—Light Purplish pink (RHS Code: 65B).
  - Petal shape.—Rounded shaped.
  - Petal size.—Average size 3.27 cm².
  - Petal length.—17 mm.
  - Petal width.—15 mm.
  - Petal number per flower.—Five.
  - Petal apex.—Rounded and curved.
  - Petal margin.—Undulating like a wave.
  - Petal base.—Acute.
  - Petal texture.—Smooth and soft (both surfaces).
  - Sepal number per flower.—Five.
  - Sepal length.—8 mm.
  - Sepal width.—4 mm.
  - Sepal shape.—Conic with a round tip.
  - Sepal apex.—Rounded.
  - Sepal margin.—Smooth.
  - Color of upper surface of sepal.—Red Purple (RHS Code: 59C).
  - Color of lower surface of sepal.—Green (RHS Code: 141C).
  - Time of beginning of flowering.—Medium, around April 12 (3 year old tree).
  - Duration of flowering.—Medium, around April 12 to around April 24 (3 year old tree).
6. Reproductive organs:
- - Stamens position compared to petals.—Below.
  - Stamen number.—41.
  - Stigma position compared to anthers.—Above.
  - Anther length.—1 mm.
  - Color of anther.—Yellow Orange (RHS Code: 20A).
  - Filament length.—12 mm.
  - Color of filament.—Red Purple (RHS Code: 68B).
  - Pistil number.—One (1).
  - Pistil length.—19 mm.
  - Pollen in anthers.—Present.
  - Pollen amount.—Abundant.
  - Color of pollen.—Yellow Orange (RHS Code: 22B).
  - Pubescence on ovary.—Absent.
7. Fruit:
- - Fruit size (weight).—Medium, Average weight: 208.7 g.
  - Fruit shape in ventral view.—Oblate.
  - Fruit shape of pistil end.—Weakly depressed.
  - Fruit: symmetry viewed from pistil end.—Asymmetric.
  - Fruit cheek diameter.—81.0 to 85.0 mm.
  - Fruit axial diameter.—10.0 to 72.0 mm.
  - Fruit: prominence of suture.—Medium.
  - Fruit: depth of stalk cavity.—Medium, Average depth: 1.3 cm.
  - Fruit: width of stalk cavity.—20 mm.
  - Fruit: ground color of fruit skin.—Light Yellow Green (RHS Code: 54D).
  - Presence or absence of over color of fruit skin.—Present.
  - Fruit: hue of over color of fruit skin.—Dark Red (RHS Code: 59A).
  - Fruit: pattern of over color of fruit skin.—Mottled.
  - Fruit: extent of over color of fruit skin (bagged fruit).—100%.
  - Fruit: extent of over color of fruit skin (non-bagged fruit).—50%.
  - Pubescence on fruit.—Absent.
  - Fruit: thickness of skin.—Thin.
  - Fruit: adherence of skin to flesh.—Strong.
  - Fruit: firmness of flesh.—Medium.
  - Fruit: ground color of fruit flesh.—Yellowish White (RHS Code: 155B).
  - Fruit: anthocyanin coloration directly under fruit skin.—Absent or very weakly expressed.
  - Color of anthocyanin coloration directly under fruit skin, very weakly expressed.—Red Purple (RHS Code: 58B).
  - Fruit: anthocyanin coloration of fruit flesh.—Absent or very weakly expressed.
  - Color of anthocyanin coloration of fruit flesh, when very weakly expressed.—Red Purple (RHS Code: N66C).
  - Fruit: anthocyanin coloration around stone.—Strongly expressed.
  - Color of anthocyanin coloration around stone.—Red Purple (RHS Code: N57B).
  - Fruit: texture of fruit flesh.—Not fibrous.
  - Fruit sweetness.—High, Brix 15 to 17 degree.
  - Fruit acidity.—Medium.
  - Fruit taste.—Sweet, high level of sugars and relatively low acidity.
  - Fruit eating quality.—Very good and easy to eat.
  - Time of maturity for consumption.—Late, around late August.
  - Tendency to crack.—Present.
  - Tendency to preharvest drop.—Weak.
  - Date of first picking.—Around August 25.
  - Date of last picking.—Around September 5.
  - Productivity.—Around 600 fruits are produced per tree per season (8 year old tree).
8. Stone:
- - Stone: size compared to fruit (ratio weight of stone/weight of fruit). Small.
  - Stone length.—34 mm.
  - Stone width.—22 mm.
  - Stone diameter.—27 mm.
  - Stone shape in lateral view.—Obovate.
  - Stone apex shape.—Short, pointed.
  - Stone base shape.—Straight.
  - Stone: intensity of brown color.—Dark.
  - Stone: relief of surface.—Pits and grooves.
  - Stone: tendency of splitting (at peak harvest)).—Medium.
  - Stone: presence or absence of adherence to fruit flesh.—Absent.
  - Stone: degree of adherence to flesh.—Weak.
  - Stone cavity: length.—23 mm.
  - Stone cavity: diameter.—13 mm.
  - Kernel length.—17 mm.
  - Kernel width.—12 mm.
  - Kernel thickness.—5 mm.
  - Kernel shape.—Long elliptic.
  - Color of kernel.—Grayed Orange (RHS Code: 172C).
9. Others:
- - Keeping quality.—Remarkable. Fruit of ‘SWEET REI’ have a slow maturation and a long shelf life both on the tree after growth completion (before harvesting) and after harvesting without alteration. After harvest, fruits are well preserved around 2 weeks, at around 4.0 degree Celsius.
  - Shipping quality.—Considered very good. The fruits of ‘SWEET REI’ showed minimal bruising of the flesh or skin damage after being subjected to normal harvesting and packing procedures. Its resistance to handling during harvest and packing and its long shelf life without alteration after harvest easily permit around 2 weeks-shipping, at around 4.0 degrees Celsius.

The comparison of characteristics of the present variety ‘SWEET REI’ with the comparator varieties ‘SWEET VENUS’ and ‘Kawanakajimahakuto’ is summarized in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1

(Table of Characteristics)

Chara-
cter	UPOV
No.	No.	Symbol	Characteristics

1	10	QNG	Tree: size
2	2	QN	Tree: vigor
3	3(*)	QN	Tree: habit
4	4	QN	Flowering shoot: thickness
			(excluding brindilles)
5	5	QN	Flowering shoot: length of internodes
			(excluding brindilles)
6	6(*)	QL	Flowering shoot: anthocyanin
			coloration (excluding
			brindilles, side away from sun)
7	7(*)	QN	Flowering shoot: intensity of
			anthocyanin coloration
			(excluding brindilles, side away from sun)
8	8(*)	ON	Flowering shoot: densly of flower buds
9	9	QL	Flowering shoot: general distribution
			of flower buds
			(excluding brindilles, side away from sun)
10	10(*)	QLG	Flower type
11	11(*)	PQ	Calyx color of inner side (opened flower,
			before falling of petals)
12	12(*)	PQ	Corolla: predominant
			color (inner side)
13	13(*)	PQ	Petal: shape
14	14(*)	QN	Petal: size
15	15(*)	QL	Petals: number
16	16	QN	Stamens; position
			compared to petals
17	17(*)	QN	Stigma: position
			compared to anthers
18	18(*)	QL	Anthers: pollen
19	19(*)	QL	Ovary: pubescence
21	21(*)	QN	Leaf blade: length
22	22(*)	QN	Leaf blade: width
23	23(*)	QN	Leaf blade , ratio length/width
24	24	PQ	Leaf blade: shape in cross section
25	25	QL	Leaf blade: recurvature of apex
26	26	PQ	Leaf blade angle at base
28	28	PQ	Leaf blade: color
29		QL	Leaf: red mid-vein on the lower side
30	29	QN	Petiole: lenglh
31	30(*)	QLG	Petiole: nectaries
32	31(*)	PG(*)	Petiole: shape of nectaries
33	32	QL	Petiole: predominant number of
			nectaries
34	33(*)	QN	Fruit: size
35	34(*)	PQ(+)	Fruit: shape (in ventral view)
36(*)	35	PG	Fruit: shape of pistil end
37	36	QL(+)	Fruit: symmetry (viewed from
			pistil end)
38	37	QN	Fruit: prominence of suture
39	38	QN(+)	Fruit: depth of stalk cavity
40	39	QN	Fruit: width of stalk cavity
41	40(*)	PQ	Fruit: groundcolor
42	41	QL	Fruit: over color
43	42	PQ	Fruit: hue of over color
44	43(*)	PQ	Fruit : pattern of over color
45	44(*)	QN	Fruit: extent of over oobr
46	45(*)	QIG	Fruit: pubescence
48	47	QN	Fruit: thickness of skin
49	48	QN	Fruit: adherence of skin to flesh
50	49(*)	QN	Fruit: firmness of flesh
51	50(*)	PQG	Fruit: ground colorof flesh

52	51(*)	QN	Fruit: anthocyanin	Fruit: anthocyanin
			coloration	coloration
			directly under skin	directly under skin
53	52(*)	QN	Fruit: anthocyanin	Fruit: anthocyanin
			coloration	coloration
			of flesh	of flesh
54	53(*)	QN	Fruit: anthocyanin	Fruit: anthocyanin
			coloration around stone	coloration
				around stone
55	54	QL	Fruit: texture ot the	Fruit: texture of
			flesh	the flesh
56	55	QN	Fruit: sweetness	Fruit: sweetness
57	56	QN	Fruit: acidity	Fruit: acidity
58	57(*)	QN	Stone: size	Stone: size
			compared	compared
			to fruit	to fruit
59	58(*)	PQ(*)	Stone: shape in lateral	Stone: shape (in
			view	lateral view)
60	59	ON	Stone: intensity of	Stone: intensity of
			brown color	brown color
61	60	PC(*)	Stone: relief of	Stone, relief of
			surface	surface
62	61	QN	Stone: tendency of	Stone: tendency of
			splitting	splitting
				(at peak harvest)
63	62(*)	QLG	Stone: adherence	Stone: adherence
			to flesh	to flesh
64	63	ON	Stone: degree of	Stone: degree of
			adherence to flesh	adherence to flesh
65	64	QN	Tine of leaf	Time of leaf
			bud burst	bud burst
66	65(*)	QNG	Tine of	Time of
			beginning of	beginning of
			flowering	flowering
67	66(*)	QN	Duration of	Duration of
			flowering	flowering
68	67(*)	QNG	Time of	Time of
			maturity tor	maturity for
			consumption	consumption
69	68	QN	Tendency to	Tendency to
			preharvest	preharvest
			drop	drop

Char-
acter
No.	Definition	Method	Grade

1	Size of whole tree	Observation	1
			3
			5
			6
			7
			9
2	Vigor of growth of branches	Observation	3
			5
			7
3	Shape of whole tree, viewed	Observation	1
	from lateral side		3
			5
			7
			9
4	Thickness of center part of first-year	Measurement	3
	grown shoot	mm	5
			7
5	Length of internodes of	Measurement	1
	center part of first-	cm	3
	year grown shoot		5
			7
			9
6	Presence or absence of anthocyanin	Observation	1
	expression in first-year		9
	flowering shoot, side away from sun
7	Intensity of anthocyanin expression in a	Observation	3
	first-year flowering shoot		6
			7
8	Density of fbwer buds on a first-	Measurement	3
	year flowering shoot		5
			7
9	General distrimtbn of flower	Observation	1
	buds on a first-		2
	year flowering shoot
10	Flower type in flowering time	Observation	1
			2
11	Color of inner side of calyx-	Observation	1
	tube in flowering time		2
12	Color of inner	Observation	1
	side of petal in		2
	flowering time		3
			4
			5
			6
			7
13	Shape of petal	Observation	1
	in flowering time		2
			3
14	Size of petal in	Measurement	1
	flowering tine	cm	3
			5
			7
			9
15	Number of	Measurement	1
	petals per flower in flowering time		2
16	Relative position	Observation	1
	of stamens to		2
	petals in flowering time		3
17	Relative position	Observation	1
	of stigma to		2
	antoers in flowering time		3
18	Presence or	Observation	1
	absence of pollen in flowering time		9
19	Presence or absence of pubescence on	Observation	1
	ovary in flowering time		9
21	Longitudinal length of mature leaf on	Measurement	3
	center part of first-	cm	5
	year shoot (excluding petiole)		7
22	Maximum width of mature leaf on	Measurement	3
	center part of first-year shoot	cm	5
			7
23	Ratb of lenglh/maximum width of	Measurement	3
	mature leaf on center part of first-year		5
	shoot		7
24	Shape b cross- section of center part of	Observation	1
	mature leaf on center part of first-year		2
	shoot		3
25	Recurvature of leaf blade apex of mature	Observation	1
	leaf on center part of first-year shoot		9
26	Shape of mature leaf base on center part	Observation	1
	of first-year shoot		2
			3
28	Color of mature leaf on center part of	Observation	1
	first-year shoot		2
			3
29	Red mid-vein on the lower stde of	Observation	1
	mature leaf on center		9
	part of first-year shoot
30	Length of petiole of mature leaf	Measurement	3
	on center part of	mm	5
	first-year shoot		7
31	Presence or absence of nectaries	Observation	1
	on petiole immedately		9
	after completion of extension of petiole
32	Shape of nectaries on petiole	Observation	1
			2
33	Predominant number of nectaries on	Measurement	1
	petiole		2
34	Weight of mature fruit	Measurement	1
		g	3
			5
			7
			9
35	Shape of mature fruit viewed from	Observation	1
	frontside (suture side)		2
			3
			4
			5
36(*)	Shape a# fruit apex of mature fruit	Observation	1
			2
			3
			4
			5
37	Symmetry of mature fruit, viewed	Observation	1
	from fruit apex		2
38	Depth of suture at eguatorial part of	Observation	3
	mature fruit		5
			7
39	Depth of stalk cavity of mature fruit	Measurement	3
		cm	5
			7
40	Width of stak cavity of mature fruit	Measurement	3
		cm	5
			7
41	Ground color of fruit skin of mature fruit	Observation	1
			2
			3
			4
			5
			6
			7
			8
			9
			10
42	Presence or absence of over color of	Observation	1
	fruit skin of mature fruit		9
43	Hue of over color of fruit skin of	Observation	1
	mature fruit		2
			3
			4
			5
			6
44	Pattern of over color of fruit skin of	Observation	1
	mature fruit		2
			3
			4
45	Extent of over color on mature fruit	Observation	1
			3
			5
			7
			9
46	Presence or absence of pubescence on	Observation	1
	surface of mature fruit		9
48	Thickness of fruit skin of mature fruit	Measurement	3
		mm	5
			7
49	Adherence of fruit skin to fruit flesh	Observation	1
			3
			5
			7
			9
50	Firmness of fruit flesh at equatorial part	Measurement	1
	of mature fruit		3
			5
			7
			9
51	Ground color of fruit flesh of mature	Observation	1
	fruit		2
			3
			4
			5
			6
			7
			8
52	Intensity of anthocyanin coloration at	Observation	1
	immedately under fruit skin of mature fruit		2
			3
53	Intensity of anthocyanin coloration in fruit	Observation	1
	flesh of mature fruit		2
			3
54	Intensity of anthocyanin coloration around	Observation	1
	stone of mature fruit		2
			3
55	Texture of fruit flesh at equatorial part of	Observation	1
	mature fruit		2
56	Degree of sweetness of fruit flesh at	Measurement	3
	equatorial part of mature fruit		5
			7
57	Degree of acidity of fruit flesh at equatorial	Measurement	3
	part of mature fruit		5
			7
58	Relative weight of stone to mature fruit	Measurement	3
	(weight of stone whole weight of fruit)		5
			7
59	Shape in lateral view (non- suture side)	Observation	1
	of stone of mature fruit		2
			3
			4
60	Intensity of brown cobr of stone of	Observation	3
	mature fruit		5
			7
61	Relief of surface of stone of mature fruit	Observation	1
			2
			3
			4
62	Tendency of splitting of stone of mature	Measurement	1
	fruit		3
			5
			7
			9
63	Presence or absence of adherence of stone	Observation	1
	(or free stone) to fruit flash of mature fruit		9
64	Degree of adherence of stone (or free	Observation	3
	stone) to fruit flesh of mature fruit		5
			7
65	Timing of first	Observation	1
	leaf bud burst		3
			5
			7
			9
66	Timing of	Observation	1
	beginning of		3
	seguential flowering		5
			7
			9
67	Length of	Observation	3
	duration of flowering		5
			7
68	Timing of	Observation	1
	maturity of fruit		3
	for consumption		5
			7
			9
69	Tendency to	Observation	1
	preharvest drop		3
			5
			7
			9

State ¶

Char-			‘Kawanakajma
acter	‘Sweet Rei’	‘Sweet venus’	Hakuto’
No.	(present tree)	(comparator 1)	(comparator 2)

1	very smal	very small	very small
	smal	small	small
	medium	medium	medium 2.7 m
			(Height)
	semi-large 2.5 to	semi-large	semi-large
	3 m (Height)	3.8 m (Height)
	large	large	large
	very large	very large	very large
2	weak	weak	weak
	medium	medium	medium
	strong	strong	strong
3	upright	upright	upright
	semi-upright	semi-upright	semi-upright
	spreadmg	spreadng	spreading
	drooping	drooping	droophg
	weeping	weeping	weeping
4	thin	thin	thin
	medium	medium	medium
	thick	thick	thick
5	very short	very short	very short
	short	short	short
	medium	medium	medium
	long	bog	long
	long	very long	very long
6	absent	absent	absent
	present	present	present
7	weak	weak	weak
	medium	medium	medium
	strong	strong	strong
8	sparse	sparse	sparse
	medium	medium	medium
	dense	dense	dense
9	isolated	isolated	isolated
	in groups	in groups	in groups
	of two or more	of two or more	of two or more
10	showy	showy	showy
	non showy	non showy	non showy
11	greenish yellow	greenish yelow	greenish yelow
	strong yellowish green	orange	orange
	(RHS Code: N144A)	(RHS Code: 33A)	(RHS Code: 25A)
12	white	white	white
	very ligft pink	very light pink	very fight pink
	light purplish pink	ight pink	light pink
	(RHSCode: 65B)	(RHSCode: 62B)	(RHS Code: 62D)
	medium pink	medium pink	medium pink
	dark pink	dark pink	dark pink
	violet pink	violet pink	violet pink
	red	red	red
13	narrow eliptic	nanow eliptic	narrow eliptic
	broad elliptic	broad eliptic	broad eliptic
	round	round	round
14	very small	very small	very small
	smal	small	small
	medium 3.27 cm	medium 3.68 cm	medium 3.5 cm²
	large	large	large
	very large	very large	very large
15	five	five	five
	6 or more	6 or more	6 or more
16	below	below	below
	same level	same level	same level
	above	above	above
17	below	below	bebw
	same level	same level	same level
	above	above	above
18	absent	absent	absent
	present	present	present
19	absent	absent	absent
	present	present	present
21	short	short	short 13.2 cm
	medium	medium 16.61 cm	medium
	long 18.61 cm	long	long
22	narrow	narrow	narrow 3.35 cm
	medium 3.71 cm	medium 3.94 cm	medium
	broad	broad	broad
23	small	small	small 3.95 cm
	medium	medium 4.22 cm	medium
	large 5.02 cm	large	large
24	concave	concave	concave
	flat	flat	fiat
	convex	convex	convex
25	absent	absent	absent
	Present	Present	Present
26	acute	acute	acute
	approximately	approximately	approximately
	right angle	right angle	right angle
	obtuse	obtuse	obtuse
28	greenish yellow	greenish yelow	greenish yellow
	dark green	green	green
	(RHS Code: 136A)	(RHS Code: 135B)	(RHS Code: 134A)
	purplish red	purplish red	purpish red
29	absent	absent	absent
	Present	Present	Present
30	short	short	short 0.6 cm
	medium 1.34 cm	medium 1.09 cm	medium
	long	long	long
31	absent	absent	absent
	present	present	present
32	round	round	round
	reniform	reniform	reniform
33	two	two	two
	3 or more	3 or more	3 or more
34	verysmal	very small	very small
	smal	small	small
	medium 208.7 g	medium	medium
	large	large 247.4 g	large 235.7 g
	very large	very large	very large
35	broad oblate	broad oblate	broad oblate
	oblate	oblate	oblate
	round	rowd	round
	ovate	ovate	ovate
	elliptic	elliptic	eliptic
36(*)	prominently pointed	prominenlly pointed	prominently pointed
	weakly pointed	weakly pointed	weakly pointed
	flat	flat	flat
	weakly depressed	weakly depressed	weakly depressed
	strongly depressed	strongly depressed	strongly depressed
37	asymmetric	asymmetric	asymmetric
	symmetric	symmetric	symme&lc
38	weak	weak	weak
	medium	medium	medium
	strong	strong	strong
39	shallow	shallow	shalow
	medium 1.3 cm	medium 1.3 cm	medium 1.5 cm
	deep	deep	deep
40	narrow	narrow	narrow
	medium	medium	medium
	broad	broad	broad
41	green	green	green
	cream green	cream green	cream green
	greenish white	geenish white	greenish while
	cream white	cream white	cream white
	cream	cream	cream
	pink white	pink white	pink white
	greenish yellow	geerish yelow	greenish yelbw
	cream yellow	cream yellow	cream yelbw
	yellow	yelow	yelbw
	orange yellow	orange yelow	orange yelbw
42	absent	absent	absent
	present	present	present
43	orange red	orange red	orange red
	pink	pink	pink
	pink red	pink red	pink red
	light red	ightred	light red
	medium red	medium red	medium red
	dark red	dark red	dark red
	(RHSCode: 59A)
44	solid flush	sold flush	sold flush
	striped	striped	striped
	mottled	mottled	mottled
	marbled	marbled	marbled
45	absent or very small	absent or very small	absent or very small
	smat	small	small
	medium	medium	medium
	large	large	large
	very large	very large	very large
46	absent	absent	absent
	present	present	present
48	thin	ftin	thin
	medium	medium	medium
	thick	thick	thick
49	absent or very weak	absent or very weak	absent or very weak
	weak	weak	weak
	medium	medium	medium
	strong	strong	strong
	very strong	very strong	very strong
50	very soft	very soft	very soft
	soft	soft	soft
	medium	medium	medium
	firm	firm	firm
	very firm	very firm	very firm
51	greenish white	greenish white	greenish white
	white	white	whte
	yellowish white	cream white	cream white
	(RHS Code: 155B)		(RHS Code: 40)
	light yelow	light yelow	light yellow
	yellow	yellow	yellow
		(RHS Code: 23A)
	orange yellow	orange yellow	orange yellow
	orange	orange	orange
	red	red	red
52	absent or very	absent or very	absent or very
	weakly expressed	weakly expressed	weekly expressed
	(RHS Code: 588)
	weakly expressed	weakly expressed	weakly expressed
	strongly expressed	strongly expressed	strongly expressed
53	absent or very	absent or very	absent or very
	weakly expressed	weakly expressed	weekly expressed
	(RHS Code: N66C)
	weakly expressed	weakly expressed	weakly expressed
	strongly expressed	strongly expressed	strongly expressed
54	absent or very	absent or very	absent or very
	weakly expressed	weakly expressed	weakly expressed
	weakly expressed	weakly expressed	weakly expressed
	red purple	strongly expressed	strongly expressed
	(RHS Code: N57B)
55	not fibrous	not fibrous	not fibrous
	fibrous	fibrous	fibrous
56	low	bw	low
	medium	medium	medium
	high	high	high
57	low	low	bw
	medium	medium	medium
	high	high	high
58	small	small	small
	medium	medium	medium
	large	large	large
59	oblate	oblate	oblate
	round	round	round
	elliptic	elliptic	eliptic
	obovate	obovate	obovate
60	light	light	light
	medium	medium	medium
		(RHS Code:
		N170B)
	dark	dark	dark
	(RHS Code: 185B)
61	small pits	small pits	small pits
	large pits	large pits	large pts
	grooves	grooves	grooves
	pits and grooves	pits and grooves	pits and grooves
62	absent or very low	absent or very low	absent or very low
	low	low	low
	medium	medium	medium
	high	high	high
	very high	very high	very high
63	absent	absent	absent
	Present	Present	Present
64	weak	weak	weak
	medium	medium	medium
	strong	strong	strong
65	very early	very early	very early
	early	early	early
	medium around	medium March 19	medium March 19
	March 25
	late	late	late
	very late	very late	very late
66	very early	very early	very early
	early	early	early
	medium	medium	medium
	late	late	late
	very late	very late	very late
67	short	short	short
	medium 10 days	medium 10 days	medium 10 days
	long	long	long
68	very early	very early	very early
	early	early	early
	medium	medium	medium
	late August 25 to	late August 28 to	late August 20 to
	September 5	September 7	August 30
	very late	very late	very late
69	absent or very weak	absent or very weak	absent or very weak
	weak	weak	weak
	medium	medium	medium
	strong	strong	strong
	very strong	very strong	very strong

¶ The boxed words (such as “medium”, “absent” and “very late”) under each cultivar name indicate the properties of the respective cultivars

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A new and distinct variety of white nectarine tree (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch var. nucipersica (Suckow) C.K. Schneid.) denominated ‘SWEET REI’, as illustrated and described herein.