Pinta nectarine tree

A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree which is somewhat remotely similar to the "Red Jim" nectarine tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,518), but from which it is distinguished by producing freestone fruit which are mature for harvesting and shipment approximately five weeks after the fruit produced by the "Red Jim" nectarine tree and which are brighter in color, of better quality and of significantly richer flavor.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY 
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of nectarine 
tree which will hereinafter be denominated varietally as the "Pinta" 
nectarine tree and, more particularly to a nectarine tree which produces 
fruit which are mature for harvesting and shipment approximately September 
14 to September 28 in the San Joaquin Valley of central California, and 
which further is distinguished by producing large freestone fruit, the 
flesh of which is firm, and with a dark red skin coloration. 
The development of new varieties of fruit trees for the commercial 
production of tree fruit is fraught with a complex interplay of 
considerations. While the production or discovery of new varieties is not 
necessarily difficult, the selection of those having commercial potential 
from among all of the new varieties so produced is an entirely different 
matter. The selection process requires painstaking observation over many 
years of growth during which such considerations as hardiness, resistance 
to disease and to pests, climate tolerance and the like may be monitored. 
More significantly, for varieties to be selected for the commercial 
production of tree fruit, such considerations relative to the tree fruit 
thereof as ripening date, size, uniformity, coloration, flavor, shipping 
and storage attributes and the like must be evaluated. From among a 
plethora of candidates, only a few may warrant continued observation 
leading ultimately perhaps to the selection of one or two for commercial 
production. Of prime importance in this regard is the ripening date as it 
relates to the respective ripening dates of existing commercial varieties. 
Any new varieties which can fill a gap in the seasonal production of tree 
fruit, or which ripen early or late in the season so as effectively to 
extend the season, particularly if they otherwise possess superior 
attributes, are perhaps of the most potential value. The new variety of 
the present invention is such a variety, as will hereinafter become more 
clearly apparent. 
ORIGIN AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE NEW VARIETY 
The variety of nectarine tree of the present invention was discovered by 
the applicant in his orchard on Goodfellow Avenue, designated "Ranch No. 
11," which is located near Sanger in the central San Joaquin Valley of 
California. The applicant discovered the new variety in 1982 as an open 
pollinated seedling of the "Larry's" nectarine tree (unpatented). 
Asexual reproduction of the new variety was achieved by the applicant in 
October, 1982 by bud grafting several trees in the same orchard to the new 
variety. Through the growing seasons thereafter, the applicant has 
observed the asexually reproduced trees of the new variety and confirmed 
that they possess precisely the same characteristics as those of the 
parent seedling and as will hereinafter be described in their full 
pomological details. 
SUMMARY OF THE NEW VARIETY 
The "Pinta" nectarine tree is characterized as to novelty by producing a 
freestone fruit very late in the growing season which are large in size 
and have a dark red skin coloration. The fruit produced by the "Pinta" 
nectarine tree is ripe for commercial harvesting and shipment 
approximately September 14 to September 28 in the San Joaquin Valley of 
central California. The new variety is perhaps most closely similar to the 
"Red Jim" nectarine tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,518), but is clearly 
distinguishable therefrom by producing fruit which are ripe for harvesting 
and shipment approximately five weeks after the "Red Jim" nectarine tree. 
As compared with the fruit of the "Red Jim" nectarine tree, the fruit of 
the new variety has improved quality, substantially richer flavor and may 
bear more heavily due to the more vigorous growth of the trees of the new 
variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new and 
distinct variety of nectarine tree, the following has been observed under 
the ecological conditions prevailing at the orchard of origin which is 
located near Sanger, Calif. All major color code designations are by 
reference to the Dictionary of Color, by Maerz and Paul, Second Edition, 
1950. Common color names are also occasionally employed. 
TREE 
Generally: Hardy. 
Form.--Upright to upright-spreading. Tree training system will modify 
somewhat the eventual tree form and density. 
Productivity.--Very productive. 
Regularity of bearing.--Regular under typical central San Joaquin Valley 
climatic conditions. 
Trunk: 
Size.--Average in diameter. 
Surface texture.--Average in comparision with other common commercial 
nectarine varieties. 
Bark.--An average amount of scarfskin is present. 
Color.--Medium brown (7-C-10) with some greyish tones. 
Lenticels -- Numbers.--Many lenticels are present. The lenticel openings 
are heavily calloused with a light brown (14-F-11) colored callous tissue. 
Lenticles -- size.--Large. 
Branches: 
Surface texture.--Young branches are nearly smooth, becoming more roughened 
with age. 
Color -- one year or older wood.--Medium Kaffa brown (7-E-9). 
Color -- current season's shoots.--Light green (19-J-6). The surfaces of 
young shoots exposed to direct sunlight are tinged with red (6-J-9). 
Surface texture -- immature growth.--Nearly glabrous and very smooth. 
LEAVES 
Size: 
Generally.--Large. Measurements obtained from large vigorous leaves growing 
near midpoint on vertical, vigorous current season's growth. 
Average length.--19.7 cm (7.76 inches) including the petiole. 
Average width.--4.4 cm (1.73 inches). 
Form: Linear lanceolate with an acuminate leaf tip. The leaf tip is curved 
downwards and usually moderately twisted to one side. 
Color: 
Upwardly disposed surface.--Dark green (23-L-6). 
Downwardly disposed surface.--Light green (22-J-6). 
Leaf vein.--Midvein on under side is a light green-yellow (20-J-4). 
Marginal form: 
Generally.--Crenate with large, broad crenations. 
Leaf margin.--Usually moderately undulate. At times, the margins are doubly 
crenate, especially at mid-margin. Most crenations are tipped with a brown 
trichome. 
Petiole: 
Size.--Medium. 
Length.--Ranging from 7 mm (0.276 inches) to 11 mm (0.433 inches). 
Thickness.--Averages 1.5 mm (0.59 inches) to 2.0 mm (0.079 inches). 
Color.--Light green (19-K-6). 
Stem glands: 
Form.--Reniform. 
Number.--Usually two to five glands are present. 
Position.--Most frequently two moderately large glands are present in 
alternate position on the very base of the leaf margin where the lower 
margin is attached to the petiole groove. One to three additional smaller 
glands can be present further up along the lower leaf margin. 
Color.--Bright, shiny green (19-L-5) when young, darkening substantially 
with age. 
Stipules: Early deciduous and can only be found on new growth. 
Number.--Two stipules are usually present, one on each side of the petiole. 
Length.--Medium. 6 mm (0.236 inches) to 8 mm (0.315 inches (with serrate 
margins. 
Color.--Light green (19-K-6) when young, darkening with age. 
FLOWERS 
Bloom quantity: Abundant. Most commonly 2 flower buds are present per node. 
Flower buds: 
Size.--Medium. 
Form.--Conic. 
Bud scales: Highly pubescent. Covered with a moderately long, grey 
pubescence. 
Color.--Medium brown (6-I-11). 
Flowers: 
Generally.--Large and showy in form. 
Size -- Generally.--Average 38.5 mm (1.516 inches) when fully opened. 
Date of full bloom: Mar. 1 in 1991. The bloom timing is considered average 
to slightly early in relation to other common commercial nectarine 
cultivars. 
Petal: 
Number.--Five. 
Color.--Light pink (1-C-1), darker pink (1-G-2) basally and on the petal 
claw. 
Form.--Generally ovate. 
Length.--Long, averaging 20.5 mm (0.807 inches). 
Width.--14.5 mm (0.571 inches). 
Petal claw.--Medium in length, moderately wide and truncate. 
Margins.--Moderately undulate, especially apically. 
Apex.--Generally rounded. 
Pedicel: 
Generally.--Glabrous. 
Color.--Bright green (Viridine 17-L-7). 
Length.--Short, averaging 2.0 mm (0.0787 inches). 
Thickness.--Averages 1.5 mm (0.059 inches). 
Nectarines: 
Color.--Bright orange (10-K-11). 
Anthers: 
Size.--Medium. 
Color.--Tan (9-H-3) ventrally and red (Ember 5-K-10) coloration on the 
anther margins and dorsally. 
Pollen: Abundant. 
Color.--Yellow (10-L-3). 
Stamens: 
Filament color.--White to very light pink (1-B-1) when the flower is young, 
darkening to a pale violet (Bridal Rose 3-F-3) when fully mature. 
Length.--14 mm (0.551 inches) to 15 mm (0.591 inches). Stamens are equal to 
slightly longer in length than the pistil at full maturity. 
Pistil: Glabrous. 
Color.--Light green (17-I-3). 
Length.--16.5 mm (0.6496 inches) including the ovary. 
FRUIT 
Maturity when described: Ripe for commercial harvesting and shipment 
approximately September 14 to September 28 near Sanger in the central San 
Joaquin Valley of California. 
Size: 
Generally.--Uniform, large. 
Average diameter in the axial plane.--76 mm (2.99 inches). 
Average diameter transverse in the suture plane.--69 mm (2.72 inches). 
Average cheek diameter.--76 mm (2.99 inches). 
Form: 
Uniformity.--Generally ovate in lateral aspect, although some variability 
is present. The fruit is generally oval to globose in axial aspect. The 
compressed portion of the oval is usually on the suture surfaces, both 
dorsal and ventral, rather than laterally. 
Suture: 
Generally.--A distinct but very shallow groove from apex to base. Usually 
the suture has no distinct coloration of its own, but takes on the 
coloration of the blush or ground color underneath the suture. At times a 
few very fine red lines can be visible when the suture is underlain with 
yellow ground color. 
Ventral surface: 
Generally.--Rounded with only a slight amount of lipping. Usually one side 
is slightly more lipped than the other. 
Stem cavity: 
Generally.--Oval in form and moderately deep. 
Width.--Averages 31 mm (1.22 inches). 
Depth.--Ranges from 13 mm (0.512 inches) to 16 mm (0.630 inches). 
Length.--33 mm (1.30 inches). 
Fruit shoulders: 
Generally.--Most fruit shoulders are creased by the imprint of the branch 
on which the fruit was borne. 
Fruit base: Variable, but usually slightly truncated. Base angle can also 
be variable, but most often is slightly oblique to the fruit axis. 
Fruit apex: Rounded in form with a very low blunt apex. Pistil point is 
variable, but most often is slightly oblique. A distinct depression is 
present on both the dorsal and the ventral sides of the apex with the 
ventral depression usually more distinct. 
Fruit stem: Medium in length. 
Size.--Averages 8 mm (0.315 inches to 12 mm (0.472 inches). 
Thickness.--Average 3.0 mm (0.118 inches). 
Color.--Light green (20-L-3). 
Skins: 
Thickness.--Medium and tenacious to flesh at commercial maturity. 
Texture.--Glabrous, smooth and glossy. 
Flavor.--Mild without much acidity. 
Tendency to crack.--No tendency to crack observed. 
Blush color.--Dark garnet red (6-L-10) in its darkest tones and ranges to a 
lighter red (6-K-11). The mottle overlying the blush is also often a very 
dark red (8-L-5). Ranges from 60 percent to 90 percent of the surface of 
the fruit. Blush pattern is usually washed but a substantial amount of 
color mottle is also present. 
Ground color.--Bright yellow (10-K-4). 
Flesh color.--Uniform yellow-amber (10-K-4) from under the skin inwards 
toward the stone cavity. 
Surface of pit cavity.--Bright ember red (5-K-10) wtih rays of red 
coloration extending several millimeters into the flesh. White callous 
tissue is present in moderate amounts on the surface of the stone cavity. 
Flesh flavor.--Highly flavored and well balanced. 
Aroma.--Slight, pleasant. 
Texture.--Firm at commercial maturity. 
Fibers -- numbers.--Few fibers of medium length are present. The fibers are 
light in color. 
Fibers -- texture.--Tender. 
Ripening.--Ripens evenly. 
Stone: 
Attachment.--Full freestone. 
Fibers -- numbers.--Few. 
Fibers -- length.--Moderately short. 
Size -- length.--Average 40.2 mm (1.58 inches). 
Size -- width.--Average 26.0 mm (1.023 inches). 
Size -- thickness.--Average 19.4 mm (0.764 inches). 
Form -- generally.--Obovate. 
Apex -- shape.--Variable, from sharp and acuminate to only moderately 
acute. 
Color -- dry.--Golden brown (14-H-11) with darker areas which have a 
purplish stain. A moderate amount of white callous tissue is present 
usually attached to grooves or pits on the stone surface. 
Base -- shape.--Broadly truncate. Base angle slightly to moderately oblique 
the stone axis. 
Sides -- generally.--Usually unequal. 
Hilum.--Medium in size, oval in form and well defined by a raised and 
substantially grooved collar. 
Stone -- surface.--Coarsely grooved, especially over the apical shoulders. 
Several large irregular pits present laterally. 
Ventral edge.--Broad with several low wings present, converging apically. 
The wings are somewhat indistinct and coalesced at the basal 6 mm (0.236 
inches) to 8 mm (0.315 inches) of the ventral suture. 
Dorsal edge.--Medium in width and substantally raised. A moderately deep 
and wide groove is usually present, extending from the stone base to about 
mid-suture. The groove narrows into a line from mid-suture up to the apex. 
The suture is moderately eroded over the apical shoulder. The dorsal edge 
is cut in several places by cross grooves. 
Tendency to split.--No tendency to split observed. 
Use: This new cultivar is a late ripening, fresh market nectarine with 
potential for use in both local market and long distance shipping. 
Although the new variety of nectarine tree possesses the described 
characteristics noted above as a result of the growing conditions 
prevailing near Sanger in the central part of the San Joaquin Valley of 
California, it is to be understood that variations of the usual magnitude 
and characteristics incident to changes in growing conditions, irrigation, 
fertilization, pruning and pest control are to be expected.