Plant Patent #17578 issued 4/10/2007. ORIGIN OF VARIETY The new peach tree (hereinafter referred to as the `P.F. 19-007` peach tree) was originated by Paul Friday in an experimental orchard, which is maintained for the purposes of breeding peach trees, located in Coloma, Mich. Coloma is located in the southwest section of Michigan, USDA Hardiness Zone 6a, with observed temperature ranges of minus 12 degree Fahrenheit to 90 degree Fahrenheit, also with annual rainfall of about 40 inches. In an ongoing mass selection breeding program, unpatented superior seedlings of unrecorded parentage are maintained as seed sources for the production of seeds which are collected and planted in mass. The seed producing parent trees are maintained solely as proprietary trees for breeding purposes and have not been released from the experimental orchard, where such trees can be evaluated for their adaptability to local and regional growing conditions. Seeds resulting from open pollination of the trees in the experimental orchard are regularly planted in mass to produce new populations of seedlings, which are cultured and monitored to maturity. Trees with superior attributes are retained for further observation and testing, and contribute seeds to advancing generations of new populations of seedlings. The tree of this application `P.F. 19-007`, was a selection from one such unpatented seedling population, and was based on the numerous superior genetic attributes of this tree which are described in the botanical description to follow. While not comprehensive, the details of the botanical description to follow are believed to be a reasonably complete botanical description of the tree of this disclosure. ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE VARIETY The new and distinct variety of peach tree was asexually propagated by budding as performed in an experimental orchard of Paul Friday Farms, Inc., located in Coloma, Mich. The asexual propagation demonstrates that such reproduction of the characteristic of the tree are consistent and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagation. SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY The new and distinct variety of peach tree is above average height and of spreading growth and a regular and productive bearer of peaches. A distinct characteristic of the `P.F.19-007` peach tree is its medium vigor having growth of about twenty-four inches (24') per year. The blossoms bloom in mid-season and are characterized by being contracted or partially spread to approximately 3/4-inch when in full bloom. At the same time five petals of the blossoms are of lesser length than the length of petals of the normal showy blossom as exemplified by the `Loring` (non-patented) peach blossom. The blossoms of the present peach tree at full bloom may be characterized as being non-showy. More specifically, the blossoms of the present peach tree have radically projecting and angularly Spaced five blossom petals to form a blossom having a diameter of about 3/4-inch across the blossoms. The flesh of the fruit of the present peach tree is very firm and is yellow. The skin is smooth having moderate to little down and is very dark red color overlying a yellow ground color. The yellow background covers approximately ten percent (10%) of its surface at maturity. At maturity, the peach is spherical having an average diameter of about 27/8''. The fruit produced by this tree has firm, and non-melting flesh, and thereby has the attendant resistance to blemishes and soft spots in harvesting, shipping, and handling due to bruising. The firmness of the fruit flesh is sufficient to allow the flesh to yield and be restored when bumped or dropped without the resulting soft spots as would be experienced in most late season peaches of this market class. Thus, fruit of this tree remains more attractive to the ultimate buyer, the consumer, and thereby will command premium prices for the late fresh desert market. The fruit matures a few days before the variety P.F. 23 U.S. Plant Pat. No. 164 and will hang on the tree for many days, staying extremely firm. The fruit as mentioned heretofore is of dark red color overlying a yellow background which covers only about ten percent (10%) of its surface and has a very attractive appearance.
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
