Patent Application
20100107287
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(f) of the Israeli Plant Breeders' Rights Application No. 4169/08 filed Oct. 29, 2008.
Prunus dulcis
‘MATAN’
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of almond tree, botanically known as Prunus dulcis, synonymous with Prunus amygdalus Batsch., Amygdalus communis L., and Amygdalus dulcis Mill., belongs to the Rosaceae family, and is hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination ‘MATAN’.
The new Prunus dulcis ‘MATAN’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventors, Doron Holland, Irit Bar-Ya'akov, Kamel Hatib and Reuven Birger in Yizre'el Valley, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Prunus dulcis variety which is self fertile and produces almond fruit, of high quality and with a large kernel.
The new Prunus dulcis ‘MATAN’ originated from a cross made by the inventors in 2001 in Yizre'el Valley, Israel. The female or seed parent is the French, self-fertile Prunus dulcis variety designated Lauranne, (unpatented), and the male or pollen parent is the local Prunus dulcis variety designated ‘Um El Fahem’ (unpatented). The new Prunus dulcis ‘MATAN’ was selected by the inventors from the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2005 in Yizre'el Valley, Israel.
Asexual propagation of the new Prunus dulcis ‘MATAN’ by grafting onto the unpatented (Prunus persica (L.) batsch×Prunus amygdalus batsch rootstock designated GF.677 was first performed in March of 2005 (two trees) and then in February of 2006 (six trees) in the orchard located in Yizre'el Valley, Israel. Asexual propagation of the new Prunus dulcis ‘MATAN’ has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new variety are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual propagation. The new variety reproduces true to type.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘MATAN’ which in combination distinguish this almond tree as a new and distinct variety:
In comparison to the parental varieties, ‘Lauranne’ (unpatented) and ‘Um El Fahem’ (unpatented), ‘MATAN’ differs primarily in the traits listed in Table 1.
Among the many commercial varieties known to the present inventors, the variety most similar to ‘MATAN’ is the female parent, ‘Laurane’, as described in the foregoing Table 1.
The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Prunus dulcis ‘MATAN’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘MATAN’.
The new Prunus dulcis ‘MATAN’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new variety may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the almond tree.
The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe trees of ‘MATAN’ as grown in Yizre'el Valley, Israel, in an open orchard under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. The trees of ‘MATAN’ were planted mainly in clay grumusol (vertisol) soil at an elevation of about 100 meters above sea level, at latitude 32°42′N, longitude 35°11′E. Yizre'el Valley is characterized by a Mediterranean subtropical climate, with an average annual rainfall of about 580 mm concentrated from November through March. Mean diurnal minimum temperature in January is 6° C. (43° F.), and mean diurnal maximum temperature in July is 33° C. (91° F.). Fertilization of about 250 kg/ha N and 300 kg/ha K is administered per year.
Unless otherwise stated, the detailed botanical description includes observations, measurements and values based on four year old ‘MATAN’ trees grown in Yizre'el Valley, Israel from 2006 to 2009. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from a number of trees of ‘MATAN’. The measurements of any individual tree, or any group of trees, of the new variety may vary from the stated average.
Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 1986 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under conditions of full sunlight.
All of the trees of ‘MATAN’, insofar as they have been observed, have been identical in all the characteristics described below.
