Burpeachfive was patented 04/02/2002 by The Burchell Nursery, Inc., Oakdale, CA. It is patent #12505. BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY. The present invention relates to a new, novel and distinct variety of peach tree, which has the denominated varietally as `Burpeachfive`. The `Burpeachfive` Peach Tree produces an exceptionally high quality, freestone peach which matures in the middle of the season. Another unique aspect of the `Burpeachfive` is that it yields an exceptionally firm peach that exhibits very high eating quality as compared with the other freestone peach varieties which mature at approximately the same time of the season. ORIGIN. The present peach tree was the result of an ongoing program of fruit and nut tree breeding. The purpose of this program is to improve the commercial selections of prunus, malus and regia species. To this end, we make both controlled and hybrid crosses each year in order to produce seedling populations from which improved progenies are evaluated and selected. The seedling `Burpeachfive` was originated by us in 1994, and chosen from among a population of seedlings which resulted from a controlled cross of an unnamed peach seedling, used as the seed parent, and the `Grand Diamond` nectarine, (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,095), which was used as the pollen parent. Resulting seed from this cross were planted in the spring of 1995. The new variety was selected from among seedlings growing in the experimental orchards of The Burchell Nursery, Inc. near the city of Fowler, Calif., County of Fresno, in the Central portion of the San Joaquin Valley of California. The `Burpeachfive` was marked for subsequent observation and noted as having exceptional characteristics. It was subsequently evaluated during the 1996-1999 fruit growing seasons. After the 1996 season, `Burpeachfive` was selected for advanced evaluation and repropagation. ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION. Scionwood from the original seedling of the `Burpeachfive` peach, was collected and grafted onto two different and existing `Nemared` unpatented peach rootstocks in February 1997 in the evaluation plot on The Burchell Nursery's experimental farm previously described. Fruit from the resulting propagation has been evaluated for the 1998-2000 fruit seasons. This evaluation clearly demonstrated that the repropagated trees are true to the characteristics of the original seedling in all observable aspects. SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY. The `Burpeachfive` peach is characterized as to novelty and is otherwise noteworthy by producing fruit which ripens in mid-season; is considered very high quality; and which further is very firm and has an attractive coloration. In this regard, the present variety of peach tree bears fruit which are ripe for commercial harvesting and shipment in approximately the last days of June and/or the first days of July. This is approximately the same harvesting period as the common commercial freestone Peach variety named `Flamecrest`. However, the present variety is distinguishable from the `Flamecrest` by its highly colored skin, exceptionable firmness and extremely flavorful flesh quality.
Key
Evaluations are based on a 1-8 scale (6=OK,7=Commercially acceptable, 8=Excellent)
Size is in inches
Shape: round is assumed, T=tip, P=point, S=suture, OB=oblate, OV=ovate
Pubescence: 10=nectarine
Blush: presented as percentage of ground color cover with red or similar
Freeness: 3=early cling, 8=completely free
Status: 0=discard, 1=keep
Notes: SOS=soft on suture, SOT=soft on tip, RIF=red in flesh, GAS=green around stem
RAP=red around pit, GGC=green ground color, sz=size, wh=white, yt=young tree, CCT=concave tip
Bloom date is when approx. 90% of blooms are open (full bloom)
The description of each variety of peach or nectarine fruit under each group is in different formats as this information is collected from varied sources and hence is not consistent