Plants – Fruit – Stone fruit tree
Plant Patent
2001-10-30
2004-10-12
Grunberg, Anne Marie (Department: 1661)
Plants
Fruit
Stone fruit tree
Plant Patent
active
PP015216
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of columnar peach tree [
Prunus persica
(L.) Batsch] which is named ‘Crimson Rocket’.
The new variety is attractive commercially for its narrow columnar canopy, productivity and for fruit of excellent quality. The tree is suitable for high-density plantings, home garden and ornamental purposes.
Columnar trees were first reported from Japan where they had been developed as ornamentals. Fruit quality of the original columnar trees (also known as “pillar” or “broomy” trees) was very poor. Breeding programs were thus begun in order to improve fruit quality. The new variety was originated at the Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture in Kearneysville, W. Va. and was identified as KV930455. It resulted from hand pollination of peach seedling identified as KV881465 (unpatented) with pollen from peach MA6-1-90 (unpatented). KV881465 resulted from hand pollination of ‘Flavortop’ nectarine (unpatented) with pollen of “pillar” peach. MA6-1-90 was a seedling from a cross of (‘Suncrest’×K2, unpatented)דpillar”. The “pillar” pollen used in these crosses was obtained from Italy and is not patented. MA6-1-90 was obtained from the Instituto Sperimentale per la Frutticoltura, Forli, Italy.
The new variety was selected in 1996 from a group of 77 seedlings produced from the pollination described hereinabove. The original ‘Crimson Rocket’ tree has maintained its columnar form, high fruit quality and productivity for 6 years. Buds of ‘Crimson Rocket’ were grafted onto ‘Lovell’, a widely used rootstock of standard tree growth habit, following standard bud-grafting techniques. Following one year of growth in the nursery, these grafted trees were dug and transferred to their permanent orchard location following standard techniques. A total of 96 bud-grafted ‘Crimson Rocket’ trees were planted in a replicated block orchard design with 12 treatment blocks, each containing 8 trees. Trees were spaced at 1.5 m, 2 m, 4 m or 6 m within rows, and 6 m between rows. Half of the trees were pruned to one leader (one major limb) and half to multi-leader (3 major limbs). These trees were tested in this planting for 3 years and have maintained their tree form, high fruit quality and productivity. Shoots of ‘Crimson Rocket’ were collected and rooted following standard procedures. Trees developed from these rooted cuttings and grown in a greenhouse for 2 years have maintained the columnar growth habit. No aberrant types have appeared in any of these plantings developed through vegetative propagation, demonstrating the stability of the new variety.
The new variety is distinct from its parents in its combination of high fruit quality and columnar growth habit. Both parents were upright but not columnar, with fruit of moderate quality. It is distinguished from its parents as well as other peach varieties by a distinctly columnar growth habit with branch angles from the main axis at approximately 35-40°, in contrast to branch angles of standard peach trees which average approximately 60° and upright trees which average approximately 42-51°.
Fruit are melting-flesh, dessert type. Fruit flesh is yellow, flavorful and firm until full-ripe. Fruit have yellow ground color with red blush that covers approximately 80% of the fruit surface. Fruit size averages 69-72 mm in diameter and 179 g in weight. Fruit are sweet with a good balance of acidity. Brix of firm-ripe fruit averages between 11.5 and 13°, depending on date of harvest. Fruit maintains firmness on the tree and in storage at levels comparable to commercial peach cultivars.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The new and distinct variety of peach tree is productive and vigorous with a narrow columnar growth habit. The fruit is medium to large in size and of excellent dessert-quality flavor. The fruit has yellow melting-flesh with approximately 80% red blush over a yellow ground cover.
Fado John D.
Grunberg Anne Marie
Rabin Evelyn M.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
LandOfFree
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