Plum tree named ‘Suplumfiftyfour’

A new and distinct plum tree variety, Prunus salicina, cv. ‘Suplumfiftyfour’ is characterized by having very large, juicy fruit with black skin and yellow flesh. The fruit of the new variety ‘Suplumfiftyfour’ also has a high Brix:Acid ratio, firm flesh, a mildly sweet flavor and a stone that clings to the flesh. The date of ripening of the fruit of the new variety is later than for ‘Friar’ (unpatented) and earlier than ‘Owen-T’ (unpatented). The fruit of the new variety ‘Suplumfiftyfour’ is larger than the fruit for ‘Friar’ (unpatented) and ‘Owen-T’ (unpatented).

Latin name of the genus and species claimed:Prunus salicina.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of a new and distinct variety of plum tree,Prunus salicinacv. ‘Suplumfiftyfour’. The new variety was first originated by hybridization in July 2005 by Terry A. Bacon as breeder number ‘PL608YB’.

The new variety ‘Suplumfiftyfour’ is characterized by having very large, juicy fruit with black skin and yellow flesh. The fruit of the new variety ‘Suplumfiftyfour’ also has a high Brix:Acid ratio, firm flesh, a mildly sweet flavor and a stone that clings to the flesh.

The seed parent is ‘Suplumthirtyfive’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,897), and the pollen parent is an unknown plum from bulk pollen. The parent varieties were first crossed in February 2001, with the date of first sowing being February 2002, and the date of first flowering being February 2005. The new plum variety ‘Suplumfiftyfour’ was first asexually propagated by Terry Bacon near Wasco, Kern County, Calif. in February 2006 by dormant grafting.

The new variety ‘Suplumfiftyfour’ is similar its seed parent ‘Suplumthirtyfive’ in that the fruit of both varieties has yellow flesh and black skin. The new variety ‘Suplufiftythree’ differs from its seed parent ‘Suplumthirtyfive’ in that the ripening time for the new variety is 37 days later than ‘Suplumthirtyfive’.

The fruit of the new variety ‘Suplumfiftyfour’ has similar black skin and yellow flesh as that of ‘Friar’ (unpatented). However, the new variety ‘Suplumfiftyfour’ differs from ‘Friar’ in that ripening starts about 6 days later for the new variety and the new variety has a smaller fruit size at about 215 g compared 123 g for ‘Friar’. The fruit of the new variety ‘Suplumfiftyfour’ has similar black skin and yellow skin to the fruit of the variety ‘Owen-T’ (unpatented), but in the new variety ‘Suplumfiftyfour’ ripening starts about 17 days later than for ‘Owen-T’. In addition, the new variety has a larger fruit size at about 215 g compared 170 g for ‘Owen-T’. Further, the new variety ‘Suplumfiftyfour’ has a Brix:Acid ratio of about 49 compared to 30 for ‘Owen-T’.

The new variety ‘Suplumfiftyfour’ has been shown to maintain its distinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagations by, for example, cuttings and grafting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 1986.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to four year old ‘Suplumfiftyfour’ plants grown in the vicinity of Wasco, Kern County, Calif. during 2017 and is believed to apply to plants of the variety grown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

General: (Measurements taken on three year old trees unless otherwise noted).Size.—Medium, reaches a height of approximately 3 meters with normal pruning.Habit.—Semi-upright.Vigor.—Medium, top shoot growth of at 0.8 meter during the growing season.Productivity.—Very Productive.Bearer.—On spurs and long shoots.Fertility.—Self-incompatible; requires pollinator.Hardiness.—Hardy in all fruit growing areas of California. Winter chilling requirement is approximately 550 hours at or below 7.2° C.Disease resistance/susceptibility.—Under close observation in Kern County, Calif., no particular plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility has been observed.Insect resistance/susceptibility.—Under close observation in Kern County, Calif., no particular plant/fruit insect resistance/susceptibility has been observed.Trunk: (Measurements at approximately 30 cm above soil line on mature tree).Diameter.—Approximately 10 cm.Texture.—Medium shaggy, increasing with age of tree.Trunk color.—About Dark Grey 201B with highlights of Dark Greyed-Orange 199B, becoming darker with age.Branches: (Measurements at approximately 90 cm above soil line).Size.—Diameter approximately 10 cm.Texture.—Medium shaggy, increasing with age.Color.—About Dark Grey 201B with highlights of about Medium Greyed-Brown 199B, becoming darker with age.Lenticels.—Present.Lenticels density.—Plentiful, about 201/cm2.Lenticels color.—About Light Grey 201D.Lenticels dimensions.—Length: approximately 3 mm. Width: approximately 1 mm.Flowering shoots: (Data taken in September at mid-point of current season growth).Size.—Average diameter approximately 5 mm.Color.—Topside: About Medium Yellow-Green 152D. Underside: About Medium Yellow-Green 152D.Internode length.—Approximately 1.5 cm. Midway on shoot.Flowering shoot lenticels.—Medium. Color: About Light Greyed-Brown 199D. Diameter: Approximately 0.2 mm.Flowering shoot vegetative buds.—Size: Medium, approximately 1.5 mm×2.5 mm. Shape: Conical. Bud shape at apex: Acute. Color: About Dark Greyed-Orange 166A.Flowering shoot flower buds.—Shape: Ovoid. Dimensions: Approximately 1.5 mm×2.8 mm. Color: About Dark Greyed-Orange 177A. Distribution: 2-6 buds, generally on spurs and one year old shoots.Ratio of flowering buds to vegetative buds.—2-6 flower buds to 1 vegetative bud.Anthocyanin intensity on upper side of shoot.—Absent or very sparse.Spur length.—Medium, usually 8 mm.Position of vegetative bud in relation to shoot.—Slightly held out.

FOLIAGE

Leaves: (Data taken in September on fully expanded leaves at mid-point of the current season growth).Average length.—Long; approximately 9.5 cm without petiole.Average width.—Medium; approximately 4 cm.Length/width ratio.—Moderately elongated, about 2.4:1.Color.—Upper surface: About Dark Green 139A. Lower surface: About Medium Green 139C.Shape.—Elliptic.Base.—Acuminate.Margin.—Crenate.Venation.—Pinnately net veined.Vein color.—About Light Green 139D with highlights of Medium Greyed-Orange 176C where exposed to sun.Surface texture.—Smooth on both upper and lower surfaces.Shape in the cross section.—Concave.Angle at apex.—Acute.Profile.—Up folded.Leaf blade tip.—Curved downwardly.Undulation of margin.—Slight.Glossiness of upper side.—Medium.Density of pubescence of lower side.—Absent or very sparse.Petiole:Average length.—Medium, approximately 10 mm.Average diameter.—Approximately 2 mm.Color.—About Light Green 139D with highlights of Medium Greyed-Orange 176C where exposed to sun.Stipules:Number/leaf bud.—Usually one.Typical length.—Approximately 8 mm.Color.—About Dark Greyed-Orange 166A when dried.Persistence.—Falls off.Leaf glands:Average number and arrangement.—0-4, alternating.Form.—Globose.Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 mm.Color.—About Medium Greyed-Yellow 162A becoming Dark Greyed-Orange 166A over time.Positions of nectarines(glands).—Predominately on the petiole, also on base of leaf blades.

FLOWERS

FRUIT