Plum tree named `Sunlite Nugget`

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of plum tree Prunus Salicina derived as an open pollinated hybrid from the `Red Beaut` plum tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,539), but from which it is distinguished by producing fruit of high quality having a distinctive flavor, a generally green skin coloration and regular bearing, the variety developed as a hybridized seedling from the aforementioned selected seed parent and an unnamed seedling as the selected pollen parent.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETYThe present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of plum tree, Prunus Salicina, which will hereinafter be denominated varietally as the `Sunlite Nugget` plum tree, and, more particularly, to a plum tree which produces early maturing fruit, which are mature for commercial harvesting and shipment approximately May 17 to May 24 in the San Joaquin Valley of central California, producing generally large, high quality fruit, having green skin coloration.The discovery and development of new varieties of fruit, and particularly tree fruit, is an assiduous task requiring great effort, substantial botanical knowledge, an equivalent knowledge of the marketplace, a considerable amount of good fortune, and time testing. From the point of view of the marketplace, the maturation period and fruit characteristics are frequently all important. Similarly, such criteria as flavor, size, color and shipability are of significant importance, as well as a multitude o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The `Sunlite Nugget` plum tree is characterized by producing early maturing, high quality, large sized fruit which have a green skin coloration and are ripe for commercial harvesting and shipment approximately May 17 to May 24 in the San Joaquin Valley of central California. The new variety of plum tree of the instant invention may be compared to the `Red Beaut` plum tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,539) with the early maturation of the fruit thereof, and including its high quality, productivity and green skin coloration.

Problems solved by technology

The discovery and development of new varieties of fruit, and particularly tree fruit, is an assiduous task requiring great effort, substantial botanical knowledge, an equivalent knowledge of the marketplace, a considerable amount of good fortune, and time testing.

In addition, the fruit of the instant variety is of a generally green coloration which has been in demand, but effectively unavailable in the marketplace.

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