Nectarine tree named `August Fire`

Abstract

The present invention relates to a nectarine tree, Prunus persica, and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a large size, vigorous, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described approximately the third week in August, with first picking on Aug. 17, 1988. The fruit is uniformly large in size, acidic in flavor, globose in shape, clingstone in type, very firm and crispy in texture, and nearly full red in skin color. The vriety was discovered as a mutation of one of the three main scaffolds of an `August Red` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6, 363) nectarine tree in a commercial orchard.

We claim: 
     
       1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantially as illustrated and described, that is most similar to the `August Red` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,363) nectarine tree by having a similar tree in size, vigor, and productivity and by producing large clingstone nectarines that are acidic in flavor, very firm in texture, and that ripen in August, but is distinguished therefrom and an improvement thereon by producing fruit that ripens about 7 days earlier and