In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, we, the inventors, typically hybridize a large number of nectarine, peach, plum, apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, which has been denominated varietally as "Diamond Jewel". The present variety was hybridized in 1983 by us in a cultivated area of our experimental orchard at Bradford Farms near Le Grand, Calif. in Merced County (San Joaquin Valley). It was the result of a seedling using Red Diamond (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,165) as the selected seed parent and an unnamed seedling as the selected pollen parent. Subsequent to origination of the present variety of nectarine tree, we asexually reproduced it by budding and grafting, and such reproduction of plant and fruit characteristics were true to the original plant in all respects.
The fruit produced by the present variety most nearly resembles the fruit of May Diamond (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,454) by being a full red colored nectarine, by ripening in early June, and by having excellent firmness, but is distinguished therefrom and an improvement thereon by being a clingstone instead of a freestone and by being sweeter in flavor. Being a clingstone variety is becoming more desirable to the long distant shipper due to the absence of a pit cavity where internal breakdown often occurs. Also, improvements in flavor are very valuable in today's marketplace.
The present variety is similar to its selected seed parent, Red Diamond (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,165), in fruit appearance by being a full red colored nectarine with excellent firmness, but is distinguished therefrom by ripening 22 days earlier and by being a clingstone instead of a freestone.