Botanical classification:Prunus persica(L.) Batsch.

Variety denomination: ‘NECTARSAFIR’.

This application claims priority of Community Plant Variety Right No. 2020/3064 filed on Nov. 30, 2020 (Nov. 30, 2020) which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The new variety named ‘NECTARSAFIR’ is also known as 9C.02.250.16 NB or ASF17134. Indeed, before giving a name to a new and distinct variety of fruit tree, a provisional reference is assigned, considering the references of a tree in orchard. This provisional reference is constituted firstly with the number of the parcel on which the tree has grown, then the number of the line, the tree number and finally the year of selection. Then before being named ‘NECTARSAFIR’, the provisional reference of this white nectarine tree variety was 9C.02.250.16, corresponding to the tree 250 located in line 02 of the parcel 9C and selected during the year 2016. The letters “NB” are related to the first letters of the type of tree in French (NB for “Nectarine Blanche”, that means “white nectarine”). Once the hybrid selected, the breeder assigned a clone reference that begins with the letters “ASF” followed by the year of selection and a number corresponding to the maturity order. The final name is only assigned once the application, has been filed and the name approved after its publication in the official bulletin. For the variety ‘NECTARSAFIR’, the clone reference was ‘ASF17134’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of white nectarine tree,Prunus persica(L.) Batsch, which has been given the variety denomination ‘NECTARSAFIR’.

This new tree produces fruits with a long shelf life without alteration both on the tree after growth completion and after harvesting, very good eating quality, semi-clingstone white flesh fruits, generally with a red pigmentation around and into the stone cavity, for fresh market in August in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, France.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The ‘NECTARSAFIR’ white nectarine tree originated from a cultivated area of the south of France, in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, where it was tested.

This place is under a Mediterranean climate (a temperate area), on the Mediterranean coastline. Winters are gentle and summers warm and dry. The amount of days with temperatures below 7° Celsius can vary between 600 and 1200 hours per year. The place is sunny, with 2400 to 2800 hours of sunny days per year on average. The prevailing wind is called ‘Tramontane’: it dries the air, clears the sky from clouds, but its intensity can be strong and affect the harvest, fruit quantity and/or quality. Marine moisture does not affect the place. Precipitations are irregular through the year and from one year to another. The amount of rainy days does not exceed 80 days per year and are mostly found in Spring and Autumn. In May and October, very intense precipitations occasionally happen. Summer is dry with a few thunderstorms.

The ‘NECTARSAFIR’ variety results from controlled pollinated cross between the white nectarine variety named ‘NECTARPERF’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,357) which was used as the seed parent, or female parent, and the white flat nectarine variety named ‘CAKEREDAL’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,358) which was used as the pollen parent, or male parent.

The ‘NECTARSAFIR’ variety was obtained by hybridizing and propagated by grafting on a ‘INRA® GF677’ (non-patented) rootstock trees. It has been determined to have unique tree and fruit characteristics making it worthy for commercial fresh fruit production. There are no known effects of the standard rootstock trees set forth above on the scion cultivar. Asexually propagated plants remained true to the original tree and all characteristics of the tree, and the fruit were transmitted. The plant was reproduced asexually by us in Les Régalines, Route d'Alenya, La Prade de Mousseillous, 66200 ELNE, Pyrénées-Orientales, France. More particularly, the plant was reproduced by grafting.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The new and distinct variety ‘NECTARSAFIR’ white nectarine tree blooms during the first two weeks of March near Elne in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, France. The blooming period is considered medium. However, it was observed that its date of blooming seems to be highly dependant on climatic conditions.

The first fruit of ‘NECTARSAFIR’ ripens generally medium in the season, namely at the end of July or at the beginning of August. However, it was observed that its date of maturity seems to be highly dependant on climatic conditions.

