A new and distinct variety of white nectarine tree (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch var. nucipersica (Suckow) C.K. Schneid.) denominated ‘SWEET REI’, characterized by being late-maturing, having high Brix and relatively low acidity white flesh, excellent eating quality fruit, being easy to eat because of its freestone fruit, having an attractive dark-red fruit skin color, and no deterioration of eating quality of fruit even after storage for two weeks in a refrigerator.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Plant Variety Registration Application No. 33273 filed on Jul. 23, 2018, which is incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of white nectarine tree (Prunus persica(L.) Batsch var. nucipersica (Suckow) C.K. Schneid.), which has been given the variety denomination ‘SWEET REI’. This novel variety was found by natural hybridization of the seed parent variety ‘SWEET VENUS’ (Japanese Plant Variety Registration No. 12301, registered on Nov. 8, 2004), in Tsukidate-cho, Date-city, Fukushima-prefecture, Japan.

This new white nectarine produces fruits, which are late-maturing, having high brix and relatively low acidity white flesh as well as attractive dark-red skin color, excellent eating quality, and are easy to eat because of its freestone flesh.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

As stated above, the new variety of white nectarine ‘SWEET REI’ was obtained from natural hybridization of ‘SWEET VENUS’ (Japanese Plant Variety Registration No. 12301, registered on Nov. 8, 2004), the seed parent of the present variety, in Tsukidate-cho, Date-city, Fukushima-prefecture, Japan, where it was tested.

In 2011, ‘SWEET VENUS’ was open-pollinated in the inventor's orchard in Tsukidate-cho, Date-city, Fukushima-prefecture, Japan, and 10 of its natural hybrid seeds were seeded and the resultant seedlings were grown at the orchard.

Five (5) germinated seedlings of the above-obtained seedlings were further grown, and the first fruits were observed in 2013. Among the 5 trees from the germinated seedlings, the inventor selected one tree as a mother tree because of its characteristics as having high brix (sweet) and relatively low acidity, excellent eating quality, and easy to eat fruits. In 2014, the second generation of the mother tree was grown by asexual reproduction by grafting onto a wild white-flowered peach tree rootstock (non-patented, being indigenous on a mountain in Tsukidate-cho, Date-city, Fukushima-prefecture, Japan), and the observation of the characteristics of the second generation tree was started. The asexually propagated tree remained true to the original tree (i.e., mother tree), and all characteristics of the tree and fruits of the mother tree were transmitted. In 2017, this new variety was denominated by the inventor as ‘SWEET REI’.

The above-identified mother tree and the second generation tree of ‘SWEET REI’ have been maintained in Tsukidate-cho, Date-city, Fukushima-prefecture, Japan.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The new white nectarine variety ‘SWEET REI’ exhibits outstanding and distinguishing characteristics when grown under normal nectarine cultivation practices, including:(1) high brix (Brix 15 to 17 degree), relatively low acidity, and white flesh fruit;(2) excellent eating quality fruit;(3) being easy to eat because of its freestone fruit;(4) attractive dark-red fruit skin color; and(5) no deterioration of eating quality of fruit even after storage for two weeks in a refrigerator.

The fruits of ‘SWEET REI’ is suitable for fruit gifts, such as fruit gift boxes or fruit baskets, since it has attractive dark-red skin color as well as excellent eating quality, and is easy to eat because of its freestone flesh.

In addition, since the fruit of ‘SWEET REI’ has high brix and relatively low acidity, it can also be used for preparation of processed fruits, such as fruit cake, fruit jelly, canned fruits, fruit juice and fruit jam.

For reliable description, the characteristics of ‘SWEET REI’ are described as compared to those of the yellow nectarine variety ‘SWEET VENUS’ (the seed parent of the present variety,Prunus persica(L.) Batsch var.nucipersica(Suckow) C.K. Schneid.) and the representative variety of white peach, ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’ (Prunus persica(L.) Batsch), its the attached Table 1 (Table of Characteristics).

As stated herein below and described in the attached Table of Characteristics, ‘SWEET REI’ has apparently different characteristics from those of the variety ‘SWEET VENUS’ and the variety ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’.

‘SWEET REI’ clearly differs from its seed parent variety ‘SWEET VENUS’, which has yellow, relatively firm and clingstone fruits, in that ‘SWEET REI’ has dark-red fruit skin color, white fruit flesh, and relatively soft, freestone and easy to eat fruit. Moreover, since ‘SWEET REI’ needs not being grown under plastic cover, its cultivation is easier than that of ‘SWEET VENUS’, which needs to be plastic covered.

In addition, ‘SWEET REI’ clearly differs from the representative variety of white peach ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’, which has Brix 13 degree, in that ‘SWEET REI’ has higher Brix (Brix 15 to 17 degree).

‘SWEET REI’ is in fact outstanding and readily identified as being such.

It should be noted that the plant age of all the plants of ‘SWEET REI’, which were observed and photographed for botanical description, was 3 years (except for the 7-year-old mother tree of ‘SWEET REI’ inFIG.21).

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed botanical description of the new variety of white nectarine, its tree, flower, foliage and fruit, as based on observations of 3 year old specimens grown in Tsukidate-cho, Date-city, Fukushima-prefecture, Japan, with color in accordance with The R.H.S. Colour Chart 2015.1. Tree:Size.—Medium (3 year old tree: Height: 5 to 3 m; Width: 3.5 to 4 m).Vigor.—Medium vigorous.Growth habit.—Semi-upright.Tree shape.—Flared shape.Hardiness.—USDA hardiness zone 8a.Disease pest resistance/susceptibility.—Resistance toXanthomonas arboricolapv.pruni.Trunk diameter(at50cm height from ground).—18.9 cm.Bark texture.—Smooth (8 year old tree).Bark color.—Gray (RHS Code: 201D).Trunk lenticel number.—0.7/cm2.Trunk lenticel shape.—Long ellipse.Trunk lenticel height.—1.5 mm.Trunk lenticel width.—3.0 mm.Trunk lenticel color.—Gray-brown (RHS Code: N119C).2. Shoot:Shoot length.—22.0 cm.Shoot diameter.—0.3 cm.Shoot texture.—Smooth.Shoot internode length.—2.4 cm.Shoot color.—Green (RHS Code: 142C).3. Leaves:Time of leaf bud burst.—Medium, around March 25 (3 year old tree).Leaf blade shape.—Lanceolate.Leaf blade length.—Average length 18.61 cm.Leaf blade width.—Average width 3.71 cm.Leaf ratio of length/width.—Large (average 5.02).Leaf blade shape in cross section.—Flat.Leaf apex form.—Attenuate-acuminate.Leaf margin.—Sawtoothed.Recurvature of leaf blade apex.—Absent.Shape(angle)at base of leaf blade.—Acute.Leaf texture.—Smooth and glabrous on both surfaces.Color of upper surface of mature leaf blade.—Dark Green (RHS Code: 136A).Color of lower surface of mature leaf blade.—Strong Yellow Green (RHS Code: 144A).Leaf venation pattern.—Pinnately veined, and having concavo-convex veins on lower surface of leaves.Red mid-vein on lower surface of mature leaf blade.—Absent.Petiole length.—Average length 1.34 cm.Petiole diameter.—2 mm.Petiole texture.—Smooth.Color of petiole.—Green (RHS Code: 142C).Nectaries on petiole of leaf.—Present.Shape of nectaries on petiole of leaf.—Rounded and reniform.Predominant number of nectaries on petiole of leaf.—More than two.4. Flower buds:Density of flower buds on the first-year flowering shoot.—Dense.General distribution of flower buds on the first-year flowering shoot.—Distributed in groups of two or more.Flower bud shape.—Conic in form with a round tip.Flower bud length.—7.3 mm.Flower bud diameter.—3.9 mm.Flower bud color.—Light Greenish Grey (RHS Code: 188C).5. Flowers:Flower type.—Showy.Flower height.—26 mm.Flower diameter.—35 mm.Flower fragrance.—Faint.Calyx color of inner side(opened flower, before falling of petals).—Strong Yellowish Green (RHS Code: N144A).Corolla: predominant color(inner side).—Light Purplish pink (RHS Code: 65B).Petal shape.—Rounded shaped.Petal size.—Average size 3.27 cm2.Petal length.—17 mm.Petal width.—15 mm.Petal number per flower.—Five.Petal apex.—Rounded and curved.Petal margin.—Undulating like a wave.Petal base.—Acute.Petal texture.—Smooth and soft (both surfaces).Sepal number per flower.—Five.Sepal length.—8 mm.Sepal width.—4 mm.Sepal shape.—Conic with a round tip.Sepal apex.—Rounded.Sepal margin.—Smooth.Color of upper surface of sepal.—Red Purple (RHS Code: 59C).Color of lower surface of sepal.—Green (RHS Code: 141C).Time of beginning of flowering.—Medium, around April 12 (3 year old tree).Duration of flowering.—Medium, around April 12 to around April 24 (3 year old tree).6. Reproductive organs:Stamens position compared to petals.—Below.Stamen number.—41.Stigma position compared to anthers.—Above.Anther length.—1 mm.Color of anther.—Yellow Orange (RHS Code: 20A).Filament length.—12 mm.Color of filament.—Red Purple (RHS Code: 68B).Pistil number.—One (1).Pistil length.—19 mm.Pollen in anthers.—Present.Pollen amount.—Abundant.Color of pollen.—Yellow Orange (RHS Code: 22B).Pubescence on ovary.—Absent.7. Fruit:Fruit size(weight).—Medium, Average weight: 208.7 g.Fruit shape in ventral view.—Oblate.Fruit shape of pistil end.—Weakly depressed.Fruit: symmetry viewed from pistil end.—Asymmetric.Fruit cheek diameter.—81.0 to 85.0 mm.Fruit axial diameter.—10.0 to 72.0 mm.Fruit: prominence of suture.—Medium.Fruit: depth of stalk cavity.—Medium, Average depth: 1.3 cm.Fruit: width of stalk cavity.—20 mm.Fruit: ground color of fruit skin.—Light Yellow Green (RHS Code: 54D).Presence or absence of over color of fruit skin.—Present.Fruit: hue of over color of fruit skin.—Dark Red (RHS Code: 59A).Fruit: pattern of over color of fruit skin.—Mottled.Fruit: extent of over color of fruit skin(bagged fruit).—100%.Fruit: extent of over color of fruit skin(non-bagged fruit).—50%.Pubescence on fruit.—Absent.Fruit: thickness of skin.—Thin.Fruit: adherence of skin to flesh.—Strong.Fruit: firmness of flesh.—Medium.Fruit: ground color of fruit flesh.—Yellowish White (RHS Code: 155B).Fruit: anthocyanin coloration directly under fruit skin.—Absent or very weakly expressed.Color of anthocyanin coloration directly under fruit skin, very weakly expressed.—Red Purple (RHS Code: 58B).Fruit: anthocyanin coloration of fruit flesh.—Absent or very weakly expressed.Color of anthocyanin coloration of fruit flesh, when very weakly expressed.—Red Purple (RHS Code: N66C).Fruit: anthocyanin coloration around stone.—Strongly expressed.Color of anthocyanin coloration around stone.—Red Purple (RHS Code: N57B).Fruit: texture of fruit flesh.—Not fibrous.Fruit sweetness.—High, Brix 15 to 17 degree.Fruit acidity.—Medium.Fruit taste.—Sweet, high level of sugars and relatively low acidity.Fruit eating quality.—Very good and easy to eat.Time of maturity for consumption.—Late, around late August.Tendency to crack.—Present.Tendency to preharvest drop.—Weak.Date of first picking.—Around August 25.Date of last picking.—Around September 5.Productivity.—Around600fruits are produced per tree per season (8 year old tree).8. Stone:Stone: size compared to fruit(ratio weight of stone/weight of fruit). Small.Stone length.—34 mm.Stone width.—22 mm.Stone diameter.—27 mm.Stone shape in lateral view.—Obovate.Stone apex shape.—Short, pointed.Stone base shape.—Straight.Stone: intensity of brown color.—Dark.Stone: relief of surface.—Pits and grooves.Stone: tendency of splitting(at peak harvest)).—Medium.Stone: presence or absence of adherence to fruit flesh.—Absent.Stone: degree of adherence to flesh.—Weak.Stone cavity: length.—23 mm.Stone cavity: diameter.—13 mm.Kernel length.—17 mm.Kernel width.—12 mm.Kernel thickness.—5 mm.Kernel shape.—Long elliptic.Color of kernel.—Grayed Orange (RHS Code: 172C).9. Others:Keeping quality.—Remarkable. Fruit of ‘SWEET REI’ have a slow maturation and a long shelf life both on the tree after growth completion (before harvesting) and after harvesting without alteration. After harvest, fruits are well preserved around 2 weeks, at around 4.0 degree Celsius.Shipping quality.—Considered very good. The fruits of ‘SWEET REI’ showed minimal bruising of the flesh or skin damage after being subjected to normal harvesting and packing procedures. Its resistance to handling during harvest and packing and its long shelf life without alteration after harvest easily permit around 2 weeks-shipping, at around 4.0 degrees Celsius.

The comparison of characteristics of the present variety ‘SWEET REI’ with the comparator varieties ‘SWEET VENUS’ and ‘Kawanakajimahakuto’ is summarized in Table 1 below.