Nectarine tree (Ruby Diamond)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a nectarine tree and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a large size, vigorous, hardy, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described approximately the first week in July, with first picking on Jul. 4, 1990. The fruit is uniformly large in size, excellent in flavor, attractively globose in shape, freestone in type, very firm in texture, and full red in skin color. The variety was developed as a hybridized seedling from the selected seed parent of Red Diamond Nectarine (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,165), and an unnamed nectarine seedling as the selected pollen parent.

We claim: 
     
       1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantially as illustrated and described, which is similar to its seed parent, Red Diamond (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,165), by producing freestone nectarines that are full red in skin color and very firm in texture, but is distinguished therefrom and an improvement thereon by producing fruit that ripens 6 days later, is somewhat larger in size, is more globose in shape, and is sweeter in flavor, and by having a large blossom instead of a small blossom, and which is also similar to the Summer Grand Nectarine (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,879) by being very productive and by producing freestone nectarines that mature in July, but is distinguished therefrom and an improvement thereon by producing fruit that ripens 6 days earlier and is full red in skin color over the entire fruit surface.