Nectarine tree named ‘Early Pearl’

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, hardy, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described approximately the last week in May, with first picking on May 27, 2002. The fruit is uniformly medium in size, very good in flavor, globose in shape, clingstone in type, moderately firm in texture, white in flesh color, and red in skin color. The variety was developed as a first generation cross using ‘July Pearl’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,293) white flesh nectarine as the selected seed parent and an unnamed nectarine as the selected pollen parent.

I claim:  
     
       1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantially as illustrated and described, that is most similar to ‘June Pearl’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,360) nectarine by producing nectarines that are white in flesh color, nearly full red in skin color, and sweet subacid in flavor, but is distinguished therefrom and an improvement thereon by having leaves with globose instead of reniform glands and by producing fruit that matures about sixteen days earlier and is globose instead of oblong in shape.