Nectarine tree named ‘Prima Diamond 7’

Botanical designation:

Varietal denomination: ‘Prima Diamond 7’.

The present variety of nectarine tree resulted from an on-going program of fruit and rootstock breeding. The purpose of this program is to improve the commercial quality of deciduous fruit varieties and rootstocks by creating and releasing promising selections ofspecies. To this end, both controlled and hybrid cross pollinations are made each year to produce seedling populations from which improved progenies are evaluated and selected.

The seedling ‘Prima Diamond 7’ was originated by the breeders and selected from a population of seedlings growing in the experimental orchards located in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The seedlings, grown on their own roots, were derived from planting seed of the variety ‘Prima Diamond 19’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,011 P2), which was a yellow-fleshed nectarine used as the female parent. The pollen parent of this seedling was from the variety ‘Honey Fire’ nectarine tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,418 P2). The resulting fruit was collected from the female parent at a mature stage and seeds were extracted. After a period of stratification, the seed was placed in the greenhouse by population, and then field planted for tree establishment, and ultimately to exhibit fruit for evaluation. One yellow-fleshed nectarine seedling, which is the present variety, exhibited especially desirable characteristics, and was then designated as ‘Prima Diamond 7’.

Asexual reproduction of this new and distinct variety of nectarine tree was accomplished by budding the new nectarine tree onto trees of ‘Nemaguard’ Rootstock (unpatented). This was performed in an experimental orchard located in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Subsequent evaluations of these asexually reproduced plants have shown those asexual reproductions run true to the original tree. All characteristics of the original tree and its fruit were established and appear to be transmitted through these succeeding asexual propagations.

‘Prima Diamond 7’ is a new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, which is considered of relatively large size, and which has a vigorous growth characteristic. This new tree is also a regular and productive bearer of relatively large, firm, yellow-fleshed, low acid fleshed tight freestone fruit which have a very good flavor and eating qualities.

The variety was discovered in a seedling population from a controlled cross of the nectarine variety ‘Prima Diamond 19’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,011 P2), which was the seed parent, and the nectarine variety ‘Honey Fire’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,418 P2), which was the pollen parent. A promising seedling was budded onto ‘Nemaguard’ (unpatented) rootstocks. The resulting clonally reproduced trees of the current variety have been consistent in phenology with the performance of the original seedling. The seed parent ‘Prima Diamond 19’ produces clingstone fruits that mature for commercial harvest approximately in that last week of June under the climatic conditions in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California. In relative comparison to the seed parent, the current variety ripens more than 12 days earlier. Additionally, the current variety produces fruit that is about 4.0 mm to about 5.0 mm larger in equatorial circumference compared to the seed parent. This increase in fruit size results in increased fruit production over the female parent variety. Further, the current variety exhibits lower flesh acidity (approximately 0.45 titratable acidity) than the female parent (which has an approximate 0.70 titratable acidity). In relative comparison to the pollen parent, the current variety ripens more than 7 days later. The pollen parent ‘Honey Fire’ produces fruit with a low acid profile, while the fruit of ‘Prima Diamond 7’ has a higher acidity level more in keeping with a typical nectarine flavor. ‘Prima Diamond 7’ fruit is further distinguished from fruit of the pollen parent by its equatorial diameter, which is about 7 to 10 mm larger than that of ‘Honey Fire’.

The colors in these photographs are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type. Due to chemical development, processing and printing, the fruit depicted in these photographs may, or may not, be accurate when compared to the actual specimen. For this reason, future color references should be made to the color plates (Royal Horticultural Society, Fourth Edition, 2001) and descriptions provided.

The following detailed description has been prepared to solely comply with the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, and does not constitute a commercial warranty (either expressed or implied) that the present variety will in the future display all the botanical, pomological, or other characteristics as set forth hereinafter. Therefore, this disclosure may not be relied upon to support any future legal claims including, but not limited to, breach of warranty of merchantability, fitness for any purpose, or non-infringement which is directed, in whole or in part, to the present variety.

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, the following has been observed in five-year-old trees and under the ecological conditions prevailing at the orchards located within Fresno County in the Central San Joaquin Valley. All major color code designations are by reference to The R.H.S. Colour Chart (Royal Horticultural Society, Fourth Edition, 2001) provided by The Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain. Common color names are also occasionally used.

Although the new variety of nectarine tree possesses the described characteristics when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing in the Central part of the San Joaquin Valley of California, it should be understood that variations of the usual magnitude and characteristics incident to changes in growing conditions, fertilization, pruning, pest control, and horticultural management are to be expected.