USPP3883P - - Google Patents

Description

May 11, 1976 R. J. OWEN Plant Pat. 3,883

POMEGRANATE TREE Filed Jan. 21, 1975 all i United States Patent Plant Pat. 3,883

Patented May 11, 1976 This discovery relates to a new and distinct variety of pomegranate tree broadly characterized by regular hearing of later ripening fruit of a crimson red color and having a high acid pulp enclosing the seeds thereof.

This new variety was discovered as a sport growing in a cultivated area of Wonderful (unpatented) pomegranate trees in my orchard in the San Joaquin Valley in Porterville, Calif. The sport was growing among other pomegranate trees exhibiting the normal characteristic of the Wonderful variety with the exception of its late maturity characteristic. The tree itself resembles the ordinary Wonderful pomegranate. The fruit colors well by September l, but does not reach county specifications until approximately the first week in October.

The fruit ripened about two weeks later than the Wonderful pomegranate trees growing in the immediate adjacent area. However, the fruit does color much earlier than the Wonderful. The pulp was of about the same color and appearance as the Wonderful, but was noted as having more of an acid taste. The shape of the fruit was similar to the Wonderful, but larger and colors earlier than the Wonderful.

The variety has been asexually reproduced in my orchard in Porterville, Calif. in the San Joaquin Valley by cuttings which were rooted from the recognized sport.

The accompanying illustrations show a specimen of the fruit cut in half and a branch of the subject variety showing foliage and mature fruit.

This variety blooms approximately coincidentally with the Wonderful pomegranate tree, The fruit ripens about two weeks later than that of the Wonderful variety and approximately six Weeks later than that of the Granada (Plant Pat. 2,618) variety. In further comparison, the seed is more tart than the Wonderful variety and has a high acid flavor. In relation to the Granada variety, the fruit is larger, is of a crimson color, and matures six weeks later. During the green stage of the fruit the coloring is a light green changing to darkening crimson red somewhat the first week in August.

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new and distinct variety of pomegranate tree, the following has been observed under the climatic conditions prevailing at my grove in the San Joaquin Valley in Porterville, Calif. and is a outline description thereof:

TREE

With respect to size branches, and leaves, the new variety of pomegranate tree is substantially identical to the Wonderful variety from which it is a sport.

FLOWERS Blooms approximately coincidentally with the Wonderful variety, is of about the same size and of a brighter red color.

FRUIT Size: Larger in size (4" diameter) than that of the Wonderful variety (3" diameter). Form: Typical of pomegranate tree fruit; a semi-globular body having a larger characteristic pomegranate crown.

SKIN

Color when green: Body of fruit is a light green, while the crown is of a crimson red. Crown portion of this new variety does maintain a blossom end color throughout its ripening stage and then assumes a bright crimson red coloring throughout the body portion as maturity approaches. Body of the fruit is light green approaching crimson in early August. The mature skin color is comparable to that of Wonderful.

COLOR WHEN RIPE A crimson red color throughout the outside and inside body.

PULP

More tart than the Wonderful variety, having an acid taste.

MATURITY DATE Ripens approximately two weeks later than the Wonderful. State of California, Department of Agriculture requires that all pomegranates for market contain no more than 1.85% acid. The normal pomegranate season in the San Joaquin Valley begins approximately about the middle of September, at which time the most mature fruit on trees of the Wonderful variety will have less than 1.85% acid. The fruit of the new late pomegranate variety ripens the last week in September and first week in October at which time the acid content has been testing less than 1.85%. Although the new variety of pomegranate tree possesses the described characteristics under the growing conditions in Tulare County located in the southeastern portion of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be understood that variation of the usual magnitude in characteristics incident to the growing conditions, fertilization, pruning and pest control is to be expected.

Having thus described and illustrated my new variety of pomegranate tree, I claim:

1. A new and distinct variety of pomegranate tree substantially as illustrated and described and which is characterized by blooming at about the same time as the Wonderful and Granada pomegranate trees, which it very nearly resembles in tree growth and appearance, but from which it is distinguished by the earlier coloring of its fruit, the later maturing of the fruit as compared to the Wonderful and the later maturity of its fruit as compared to the Granada.

No references cited.

ROBERT E. BAGWILL, Primary Examiner

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