Plum tree named ‘Suplumfortysix’

A new and distinct plum tree variety, Prunus salicina, cv. ‘Suplumfortysix’ is characterized by a dark-purple dappled skin.

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

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of a new and distinct variety of plum,Prunus salicinacv. ‘Suplumfortysix’. The new variety was first originated by hybridization on Aug. 5, 2007 by Terry A. Bacon as breeder number: ‘PL878RZ’.

The new variety ‘Suplumfortysix’ is characterized by a dark purple dappled skin.

The seed parent is ‘96P024-003-430’ (unpatented), and the pollen parent is unknown. The parent varieties were first crossed in February 2004, with the date of first sowing being February 2005, and the date of first flowering being February 2007. The new plum variety ‘Suplumfortysix’ was first asexually propagated by Terry Bacon near Wasco, Kern County, Calif. in January 2010, by grafting.

The new variety ‘Suplumfortysix’ is distinguished from its seed parent in that the new variety ripens about 18 days after ‘96P024-003-430’ and has a dark purple dappled skin color compared to solid black skin for ‘96P024-003-430’.

The new variety ‘Suplumfortysix’ ripens about 20 days before ‘Angeleno’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,747) and has a dark purple dappled skin compared to the solid reddish-black skin of ‘Angeleno’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,747). The new variety Suplumfortysix' ripens about 14 days after ‘Dapple Dandy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,254) and has a dappled finish like ‘Dapple Dandy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,254) but the color of the new variety is a dark-purple dappled finish compared to the pale-reddish dapple of ‘Dapple Dandy.’

The new variety ‘Suplumfortysix’ has been shown to maintain its distinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagations by, for example, 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 a 4 year old ‘Suplumfortysix’ plants on Nemaguard rootstock, grown in the vicinity of Wasco, Kern County, Calif., during 2013, and is believed to apply to plants of the variety grown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

FOLIAGE

FLOWERS

FRUIT