Peach tree named &#8216;Supechthirteen&#8217;

A new and distinct peach variety that possesses early-ripening fruit with delicate flavor, hardiness and a low winter chilling requirement.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

VARIETY DENOMINATION

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of a new variety of clingstone peach, Prunus persica cv. Supechthirteen . The new variety was first hybridized by Carlos D. Fear in May 13, 1991. The new variety was selected and evaluated by Bruce D. Mowrey and David W. Cain, near Wasco, Kern County, Calif., the variety being originated by hybridization. The new variety is characterized by its early-ripening fruit with delicate flavor, its hardiness, self-fertility, and its low winter chilling requirement.

The seed parent is Flordaprince (unpatented) and the pollen parent is Earligrande (unpatented). The parent varieties were first crossed in February 1989. The date of sowing was November 1989, with the date of first flowering being February 1991. The new peach variety was first asexually propagated by Bruce D. Mowrey in June 1991, near Wasco, Kern County, Calif. by budding onto Nemared rootstock.

The new peach variety Supechthirteen may be distinguished from presently available low-chilling cultivars in commerce by the following combination of characteristics: the new peach variety cv. Supechthirteen most nearly resembles Flordaprince . It differs from Flordaprince by ripening approximately 7 days before Flordaprince and has more (80-100%) red overcolor compared to Flordaprince (70-90%) and the red overcolor is more evenly distributed and less striped than with Flordaprince . The new cultivar vaguely resembles Tropic Beauty but ripens approximately 17 days before Tropic Beauty .

The new peach cultivar, Supechthirteen may be distinguished from its pollen parent Earligrande (unpatented) in the following characteristics: the new cultivar ripens approximately 10 days before Earligrande . The new cultivar has a lower winter chilling requirement, requiring approximately 150 hours of temperature below 45 F. vs 250 hours for Earligrande . The new cultivar also has more (80-100%) external red blush than Earligrande (40-60%).

The new peach variety cv. Supechthirteen has been shown to maintain its distinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagations, for example, by budding. The first propagation was performed near Wasco, Kern County, Calif. on June 1991 by Bruce D. Mowrey by budding onto Nemared rootstock.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to Supechthirteen plants grown in the vicinity of Wasco, Kern County, Calif. with bloom and ripe dates also given for low chill sites near Mecca, Riverside County, Calif., during 2000, and is believed to apply to plants of the variety grown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere:

General: Trees were three years old and were maintained at a height of about ten feet and a canopy diameter of about ten feet by annual prunings.

Vigor. Typical of the species; shoot growth on mature tree during one growing season is about 600 to 1000 mm (growth rate responds typically to irrigation, fertilization, rootstock, and other cultural factors).

Trunk: Trunk is round in outline and of medium circumference, averaging 60 cm at 30 cm above ground level on 3-year-old trees.

Branches: Branches are round in outline and average 20 cm in circumference on 3-year-old trees as measured 30 cm distal from the branch juncture with the trunk.

Color. About 175C to 201D, varying with age of tree.

LEAVES

Positioning. On both leaf base and petiole.

Size. About 0.9 mm long by 0.7 mm wide.

Size. About 1.1 mm wide at widest point, by about 3 mm long (for a typical 5 mm diameter shoot).

Position relative to shoot. Adpressed.

Time of bud burst. Bud burst occurs at the time of flower bud expansion.

Ratio of wood ( leaf ) buds to flowering shoots. 1:2.

FLOWERS

Hardiness. Hardy in central California.

Size. About 4 mm long by about 3 mm wide at widest point (for a typical 5 mm diameter shoot).

Date of first bloom. Jan. 25, 2000 at low chill site in Riverside County, near Mecca, Calif. Feb. 3, 2000 at medium high chill site in Wasco, Kern County, Calif.

Date of full bloom. Jan. 30, 2000 at low chill site in Riverside County, near Mecca, Calif.; Feb. 8, 2000 at medium high chill site in Wasco, Kern County, Calif.

Time of bloom. Medium, as compared with similar low chill varieties in the growing area of Wasco, Kern County and Mecca, Riverside County, Calif.

Size ( diameter of the fully open flower ). Small, about 2.6 cm.

Color ( fully opened flower ). About 62B.

Pubescence of inner surface ( at pink bud stage ). Pubescent.

Width at first opening of flower. About 6 mm.

Color at first opening of flower. About yellow-green 145A with highlights of red 46A.

Frequency of flowers with double sepals. None.

Number of petals per typical flower. 5.

Frequency of flowers with double petals. None.

Shape of apex. Rounded.

Shape of base. Petal narrows at point of attachment.

Color ( inner surface ). About 62B.

Position ( as compared with anthers ). Level.

Color ( just before dehiscence ). About Red 39A on outer edges and about Yellow 14B in recesses.

Frequency of supplementary pistils. Few.

Length when flower bud first opens. About 18 mm.

FRUIT

At right angles to suture plane. 6 cm.

Form. Uniform, rounded, and slightly flattened toward tip. Tip tends to be slightly recessed.

Position of maximum diameter. Towards middle.

Symmetry about the suture. Symmetric.

Resistance to. Insects: good. Diseases: good. Shipping quality: held firm in cold storage for 2 weeks at 38 -42 F. without internal breakdown of flesh or appreciable loss of eating quality.

Suture: An inconspicuous line extending from base to apex along one side.

Density of apex pubescence. Medium.

Shape. Flaring, circular; with suture showing on one side.

Texture at harvest. Smooth and crisp.

Tendency to crack. None in wet season.

Sugar content. Low to medium.

Eating quality. Fair good for early season fruit.

STONE

Adherence to flesh. Cling, adheres to flesh over entire surface.

Width at right angle to suture plane. 1.8 cm.

Angle of stalk end. Obtuse.

Position of maximum breadth. Middle.

Ventrical edge. Thin with slight wing toward base.

Color of stone. About Greyed-Orange 165D.

Tendency to split. Slight in wet season.

Kernel size ( when dried ). About 10 mm wide by about 13 mm long.