Latin name of the genus and species of the plant: Prunus persica.
Variety denomination: ‘CaroRes Delight’.
A new and distinct peach cultivar named ‘CaroRes Delight’ is described herein. The new cultivar originated from a cross between white flesh peach ‘Scarletpearl’ (not patented) and yellow flesh pollen parent ‘Rubyprince’ (not patented) in 2010 near Seneca, SC. This new cultivar was selected in 2013 for its potential as a fresh-market peach in South Carolina and the southern United States. ‘CaroRes Delight’ can be distinguished by its distinctly juicy melting flesh, early season ripening, large size, attractive appearance, 90% red skin color, excellent classic peach flavor, and high tolerance to bacterial spot and brown rot disease.
Seneca, SC is under a humid subtropical climate. Winters are short and mild with little to no snow; summers are long, hot and humid. There is significant annual rainfall averaging 1339 mm (52.7 in) coming from an average of 116 rainy days a year. July has the greatest number of rainy days (13.8 d), mostly from thunderstorms, with an average of 88.9 mm (3.5 in) and rarely exceeding 175 mm (6.9 in) or falling below 33 mm (1.3 in). Average high temperature in the warmest month, also July, is 32° C., with an average heat index at 40° C. The average low temperature in the coldest month, January is 0.8° C. The hours below 7° C. varies greatly year to year, but range between 700-1200 hours.
The original plant selection was propagated asexually by budding onto standard peach rootstock cultivar Guardian® (not patented) and a test plot of two plants was established in Seneca, SC. Subsequently, larger test plantings were established with asexually multiplied plants at two additional locations in South Carolina (near Ridge Springs, SC). At each location, propagation was by budding onto the standard peach rootstock cultivar Guardian® (not patented) from buds collected at the test plot in Seneca, SC. No incompatibility or change of scion attributes with Guardian® (not patented) peach rootstocks have occurred following budding. During all asexual multiplication, the characteristics of the original plant have been maintained and no aberrant phenotypes have appeared. The asexual multiplication demonstrates that such reproduction of the characteristics of the tree are consistent and are established or transmitted through succeeding generations.
The new and distinct peach cultivar originated from a cross between ‘Scarletpearl’ (not patented) and ‘Rubyprince’ (not patented) made in 2010 near Seneca, SC. The seeds resulting from this controlled hybridization were germinated in a greenhouse in the late winter 2010/early spring of 2011 and planted in a test field in Seneca, SC. The seedlings fruited during the summer of 2013 and one peach seedling, designated SC10-13-178 was selected for its juicy melting flesh, early season ripening, large size, attractive appearance, excellent classic peach flavor, and tolerance to bacterial spot disease. The new cultivar, designated originally as SC10-13-178, tested as SC9, was subsequently named ‘CaroRes Delight’.
The claimed variety differs from its parents, ‘Scarletpearl’ (not patented) and Rubyprince (not patented) in that while ‘CaroRes Delight’ fruit has yellow flesh, which is similar to ‘Rubyprince’ (not patented), the “CaroRes Delight’ fruit is different than ‘Scarletpearl’ (not patented) which has white flesh. The ‘CaroRes Delight’ has superior size, averaging 71 mm compared to Rubyprince (not patented) at 67 mm, and is less prone to pit splitting than both parents. The present variety of peach tree when compared to the seed parents is similar in appearance to ‘Rubyprince’ (not patented) in that the ‘CaroRes Delight is a yellow fleshed peach with a firm but melting texture, but superior due to excellent eating quality and a high level of tolerance to both foliar and fruit infection of bacterial spot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. Pruni (Smith) Dye).
The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new cultivar in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a color illustration of this character.
Plants and fruit of this new cultivar differ phenotypically from its parents and cultivars ripening at the similar time. While ‘CaroRes Delight’ has yellow melting flesh textured like its pollen parent, Rubyprince (not patented), it ripens about a week earlier, and has superior size, averaging 71 mm compared to Rubyprince (not patented) at 67 mm, and ‘Carored’ (not patented) 66 mm, and is less prone to pit splitting. ‘CaroRes Delight’ is different than its maternal parent ‘Scarletpearl’ (not patented) which has white flesh, and ‘CaroRes Delight’ having yellow flesh. ‘CaroRes Delight’ has moderate chill requirement (850 hours), which is similar to pollen parent ‘Rubyprince’ (not patented) and higher than ‘Carored’ (not patented) (650 hours), but ‘CaroRes Delight’ blooms 1-2 weeks later and has high fruit and leaf tolerance to bacterial spot (Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni).
Trees of the new cultivar are vigorous, productive, standard in size, well-branched and symmetrical with an upright to semi-spreading growth habit, comparable to other peach and nectarine trees. Trees express a high level of tolerance to both foliar and fruit infection of bacterial spot [Xanthomonas campestris pv. pruni (Smith) Dye]. The new cultivar blooms in the spring around the beginning to middle of March, one week later than ‘Carored’, which is on the middle to late range of all cultivars blooming in Seneca, SC. No winter cold injury has been observed on wood or buds of the new cultivar in South Carolina tests where minimum temperatures have reached 5° F. (−15° C.) during evaluation. Bud chill hardiness ranges from −10 to −12° C. Chilling requirement to break dormancy is estimated to be between 700-800 hours below 45° F. (7° C.), which is similar to pollen parent ‘Rubyprince’ (not patented), 850 chill hours, but higher than ‘Carored’, 650 chill hours.
Fruit of the new cultivar ripens early season, averaging 3-10 days before ‘Rubyprince’ (not patented) and 7-10 days after ‘Carored’ (not patented). Average first ripening date is June 6th in upstate South Carolina (near Clemson). Very few split pits, less than ‘Rubyprince’ (not patented) and ‘Carored’ (not patented), with uniform shape, but with some fruit with lopsided halves and no tips. Fruit yields have been good with an estimated 57.82 kg total yield on 4th leaf, open center trees.
The fruit is very round in shape. Fruits are attractive with around 90% Dark Red (RHS 183A) blush. The fruit skin has light pubescence, less than pollen parent ‘Rubyprince’ (not patented) and ‘Carored’ (not patented). The flesh of the fruit is brilliant yellow (RHS 11A) in base color with vivid reddish orange (RHS N30A) in flesh close to skin. Flesh is of the melting type, but fruit holds well on tree which is similar to the pollen parent ‘Rubyprince’ (not patented) but different than fruit of the cultivars within similar ripening time such as ‘Carored’. The fruit is a clingstone, in that the flesh adheres to the pit. Fruit size is large averaging 204 g. ‘CaroRes Delight’ has the higher pack out of fruits larger than 2¾ in (>90%) compared to pollen parent ‘Rubyprince’ (not patented) 40%, and other cultivars ripening at the similar time, ‘Carored’ (not patented) 30% and ‘Summerprince’ (not patented) 15%. ‘CaroRes Delight’ had no fruit smaller than 2 and ½ in, which is standard size for early ripening cultivars such as ‘Carored’ (not patented), 70% of fruit smaller than 2½ in and ‘Summerprince’ (not patented) 55% fruit smaller than 2½ in. The fresh fruit has excellent classic peach flavor and was rated highly in evaluations. Fruits average 10.1% soluble solids, which is good for the season. Flavor is sweet and well balanced with moderate acidity. The acidity level of ‘CaroRes Delight’ is 0.91% malic acid.
The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomological characteristics of the subject peach. Color data are presented in Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart designations (2015 6th revised edition). Where dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations of averages set forth as accurately as practical.
Plants used for botanical data were at their 4th leaf and grown on berms on a fine sandy loam soil with stake irrigation near Clemson, SC. Trees were trained to an open-center training system and dormant pruned annually. Fruits on all trees were thinned to approximately 6 inches between fruits 4-5 weeks after full bloom. The trees were fertilized near budbreak (late March on average) with 19-19-19 fertilizer. Weeds were controlled with pre- and postemergence herbicides. Routine commercial fungicide and insecticide applications were made to the trees. The descriptions reported herein are from specimens grown near Clemson, SC.
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