Nectarine tree

A new variety of nectarine discovered as a sport of a Regal Grand growing in Fresno County, located in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The new variety is characterized by fruit which, when mature, is highly colored, keeps well and is particularly suited for shipping.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY 
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of nectarine 
tree of a yellow-fleshed, clingstone fruit type which was discovered by us 
as a bud sport on a "Regal Grand" nectarine tree, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 
1,751. 
ORIGIN AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE NEW VARIETY 
At the time of our discovery of the sport, above referred to, two limbs 
bearing the fruit of the new variety were observed growing on a Regal 
Grand nectarine tree in a ten acre orchard of about 1,000 trees, located 
on the south side of Manning Avenue, between Alta and Crawford streets, 
near Reedley, County of Fresno, State of California. The fruit was picked 
and stored by us in order to determine its keeping characteristics, and 
steps were taken to protect the sport limbs. 
In early 1975 we asexually reproduced one tree from bud wood taken from the 
sport limbs by grafting over root stock of a Late LeGrand nectarine tree, 
located in a test plot near Reedley. In 1976 additional trees were made 
from bud wood taken from the asexually reproduced tree. The sport limbs, 
the grafted-over Late LeGrand nectarine tree and the additional trees have 
been continuously observed. 
Contined observations of the sport, as well as the asexual reproductions 
thereof, confirmed to us that the new variety is different from the Regal 
Grand, by virtue of size, and coloring and the consistent earlier coloring 
of the fruit produced thereby. 
SUMMARY OF THE NEW VARIETY 
In particular, the fruit of the new variety is large, generally uniform, 
colors early and fully ripens about three weeks later. When the fruit is 
mature, the skin thereof is predominantly bright red over yellow and 
displays a prominent yellow suture stripe. The fruit begins to color 
earlier than the Regal Grand and continues to darken until fully ripe. The 
suture stripe tends to fade as the fruit reaches full maturity. The fruit 
keeps well on the tree, thus providing for a long harvest period. The high 
red coloring and the good keeping qualities make our new variety 
especially desirable for commercial fruit productions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The following is a detailed description of our new variety with color 
terminology being in accordance with the Nickerson Color Fan, obtainable 
from Munsell Color Company, Baltimore 2, Md., except in instances where 
terminology having generally accepted meaning is employed. 
Parentage: Bud sport of "Regal Grand", patented variety. 
Propagation: Maintains its distinguishing characteristics through 
succeeding asexual propagations. 
Locality where grown and observed: Near Reedley, County of Fresno, Calif. 
TREE 
Size: Large. 
Vigor: Vigorous; very productive. 
Regularity of bearing: A regular bearer. 
Trunk: Medium to large size, similar to the Regal Grand. 
Branches: Color of old wood, 5 YR 3/3, moderate brown over 10 YR 5/6, 
strong yellowish brown; new wood tends toward a slight reddish green. 
Leaves: 
Color.--Moderate olive green 2.5 GY 4/3. 
Size.--Medium, average length 5 inches and average width 1.1 inches. 
Shape.--Lanceolate, with acuminate tip and base. 
Marginal form.--Crenate. 
Glandular characteristics.--One to four, small to medium, reniform glands, 
found mostly on base of leaf. 
Petiole.--Medium, approximately 0.5 inches in length and 0.1 inches in 
thickness. 
Stipules.--None. 
Flower bud: Similar in size, shape and color to those of the Regal Grand 
variety. 
Flower: Similar in size, shape, color and blossom dates to those of the 
Regal Grand variety. 
FRUIT 
Maturity: Colors during the first week of August, about the fourth, but 
does not fully ripen until about three weeks later, about the 25th of 
August, and is considered to be ready for shipping about one week later 
than the fruit of the Regal Grand variety. 
Size: 
Uniformity.--Generally large and uniform, considered to be larger than the 
fruit of the Regal Grand variety. While the description of the fruit size 
of Regal Grand in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,751 would lead one to believe that 
the fruit size of the sport is smaller than the former, just the opposite 
was observed when the parent and sport were compared under the same 
growing conditions. 
Axial diameter.--Three inches in the plane of the suture. 
Transverse diameter.--Two and one-half inches in plane of suture. 
Transverse diameter at right angles to suture plane.--Two and one-half 
inches. 
Form: Mostly uniform in shape, slightly elongated ovate and characterized 
by slight protrusion of lips. 
Tendency to split.--Slight to none. 
Tendency to crack.--None. 
Base.--Oblate. 
Apex.--Rounded with point at apex, located in suture. 
Suture.--Prominent, extends from stem cup beyond pistil point and is 
characterized by a distinctive yellow suture stripe throughout its length 
during early maturity; and suture lips tend to be unequally protruded. 
Stem: About 0.25 inches in length and about 0.2 inches in diameter. 
Skin: 
Thickness.--Thick and smooth. 
Color.--Predominantly 5 R 4/12 strong red to 5 R 3/7 dark red over 10 YR 
8/10 moderate orange yellow, during earlier stages of ripening, the orange 
yellow coloring being well overspread by the strong red, particularly near 
the apex end which tends to darken to 2.5 R 3/7 dark red, as the fruit 
fully matures. 
Suture stripe.--10 YR 8/10 moderate orange yellow which tends to fade as 
the fruit approaches full maturity. 
Pubescence.--None. 
Flesh: 
Texture.--Firm and crisp. 
Color.--2.5 Y 9/9 brilliant yellow color changing to 2.5 R 3/7 dark red 
near the stone. 
Juice.--Moderate to abundant. 
Flavor.--Generally sweet; but slightly tart. 
Aroma.--Mild. 
Fibers.--Few. 
Ripening.--Tends to ripen evenly. 
Eating quality.--Excellent. 
Stone: 
Adherence to flesh.--Tenatious adheres to flesh. 
Size.--Large, average size 1.05 inches in length, 1.25 inches in width, and 
0.9 inches in thickness. 
Form.--Mostly ovate and generally symmetrical with respect to longitudinal 
planes, further characterized by an acuminate tip, straight base and 
rounded sides of substantially equal lengths. 
Hilum.--Oval to oblong. 
Dorsal edge.--Thin, having a groove extending from the hilum to the apex. 
Ventral edge.--Slightly thicker than the dorsal edge with deep grooves 
toward the base end. 
Surface.--Furrowed toward the apex end and pitted toward the base end. 
Color.--2.5 YR 5/9 brownish orange, when dry. 
Use: Shipping. 
Keeping quality: Very good. 
Shipping quality: Very good. 
Resistance to disease: About the same as that of the Regal Grand variety. 
Although the new variety of nectarine tree possesses the described 
characteristics as a result of the growing conditions in Fresno County, 
Calif., in the central portion of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be 
understood that variations of the usual magnitude in characteristics 
incident to growing conditions, fertilization, pruning and pest control 
are to be expected.