From the breeding program of Paul Friday, Paul Friday Farms, Inc. Coloma, MI. Plant Patent # 17543 issued on 04/03/2007. ORIGIN OF VARIETY The new peach tree (hereinafter referred to as the `P.F. 5D Big` peach tree) was originated by Paul Friday in an experimental orchard, which is maintained for the purpose 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 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 a advancing generations of new populations of seedlings. The tree of this application, `P.F. 5D Big`, 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 descriptions to follow. The botanical descriptions to follow are believed to represent a reasonably complete botanical description, of the new peach tree, which is sufficiently detailed to distinguish the tree from the most closely related trees within the same market class. ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE VARIETY The new and distinct variety of peach tree was asexually propagated by budding as performed in an experimental orchard located in Coloma, Mich. The asexual propagation demonstrates that such reproductions of the characteristics 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 of moderate upright growth and a regular and productive bearer of peaches. The `P.F. 5D Big` peach tree bears a semi-cling peach of large diameter of about 23/4''. The peach is characterized by a shallow suture. The skin color is an attractive red, which extends in mottled form and stripes into an underlying yellow background. The blossoms are characterized by being contracted or partially spread when in full bloom. At the same time the petals of the blossom are of lesser length than the length of petal of the normal showy blossom as exemplified by the `Loring` (unpatented) peach blossom. The flesh of the fruit of the present peach tree is firm and is a dull pale yellow. The flesh surrounding the pit is of minimal color. At maturity the peach is spherical having an average diameter of about 23/4''. The fruit has a firm flesh and may be described as resilient to the extent the flesh is yieldable and restorable to its original state when subjected to impact forces which may cause permanent deformities in peaches of the commercial varieties. The firmness of the fruit facilitates handling and packaging of the peaches damaging the same for shipment. This results in less spoilage and also increases the shelf life. The fruit matures in the very early part of the peach-growing season of southwestern Michigan. The fruit as mentioned heretofore is of pleasing red color over a substantial portion 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
