The ‘Smooth Delight Three’ nectarine is being released for trial by Texas A&M AgriLife to provide a firm, well-sized, early-ripening, attractive, subacid, high-quality, white-fleshed nectarine for the medium-chill zone. The new nectarine ripens in late May to early June in the medium chill zone of Texas and similar regions.
Origin
The ‘Smooth Delight Three’ nectarine [Prunus persica (Batsch) L.] originated in the Stone Fruit Breeding Program within the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University. It was selected from the high-density seedling selection in 2006 from a population derived by selfing the selection TX4C188LWN. TX4C188LWN originated from a cross between ‘Sunmist’ (Sherman et al. 1995), a white-fleshed, acid-flavored nectarine released by the University of Florida, and ‘Arctic Star’ a white-fleshed nectarine with a subacid flavor released by Zaiger Genetics (Zaiger et al. 1995). ‘Sunmist’ is derived from a cross between ‘Flordaglo’ and ‘Mayfire’, whereas ‘Arctic Star’ is a hybrid between an unknown white nectarine and ‘Mayglo’ nectarine. Resulting seed from this ‘Sunmist’ × ‘Arctic Star’ cross were planted in 2000 in a high-density breeding orchard at the Texas A& M University Horticultural Farm in College Station, TX, USA. In 2003, the selection TX4C188LWN was marked for subsequent observation and was noted as having exceptional characteristics. In 2004, selfed seed was collected and the embryo rescued. The resulting seedlings were planted in the high-density seedling selection field in 2005. In 2006, TX3B323LWN was selected for its attractiveness, low acidity, high soluble solids, and productivity. It was propagated asexually by budding and has been evaluated in Texas and California, USA.
Description
‘Smooth Delight Three’ has been observed in three locations: two medium-chill sites (College Station and Fairfield, TX, USA) and a high-chill location (Fowler, CA, USA). The College Station, TX (lat. 30°37′N, long. 96°22′W, 94 m elevation); Fairfield, TX (lat. 31°44′N, long. 96°10′W, 134 m elevation); and the Fowler, CA (lat. 36°38′N, long. 119°42′W, 92 m elevation) sites have a chilling accumulation that is generally above 550, 700, and 850 chill units, respectively, as estimated with the mean monthly temperature of the coldest month (Byrne and Anderson 2024). These correspond to ∼38, ∼49, and ∼65 chill portions (Luedeling and Brown 2011).
In the medium chill sites (College Station and Fairfield, TX), this nectarine bloomed 3 to 5 d after ‘TexKing’ (Byrne and Bacon 2004a) and 9 to 15 d before ‘June Gold’ (Brooks 1969). It blooms 4 to 5 d later (Table 1) and requires more chill hours to break dormancy than ‘Smooth Delight One’ and ‘Smooth Delight Two’ (Byrne and Anderson 2014c). The estimated chilling requirement is between 500 and 550 CU, ∼200 h more than is required for ‘Smooth Delight One’ and ‘Smooth Delight Two’. In the absence of a spring frost during bloom, this new cultivar has been similar to or more productive than commercial cultivars that require 450 (TexKing), 500 to 550 (Texstar, Byrne and Kamas 1984; Royal Zest peaches, Byrne and Anderson 2014a), 650 (June Gold), and 750 (Harvester, Okie 1998) chill hours at all three of the sites where it was tested.
Fruiting characteristics of ‘Smooth Delight Three’ nectarine in Texas (College Station and Fairfield) and California (Fowler), USA.
Smooth Delight Three is an early-ripening, clingstone, subacid, melting flesh, white nectarine cultivar that ripens ∼81 and ∼95 d after full bloom in the medium chill and high chill zones, respectively. The longer fruit development period in the higher chill region is due to the cooler temperatures during fruit development. In the medium chill zone, it ripens about 1 week before ‘Royal Zest Two’ peach and within a few days of ‘Smooth Texan Two’ nectarine and ‘TexKing’ peach depending on the year and site grown (Table 1). It is well suited to regions where ‘Florida King’, ‘TexKing’, ‘Texstar’, Royal Zest peaches, and ‘June Gold’ are grown.
Fruit quality.
This nectarine has low acidity (varies from 2.1 to 4.5 meq/mL), excellent quality and attractiveness (Fig. 1), and a similar size to other early ripening nectarines such as the Smooth Texan (Byrne and Anderson 2014b) or Smooth Delight series when properly managed and thinned. It has a mean soluble solid content similar to or better than ‘Smooth Texan One’, ‘Smooth Texan Two’, ‘Smooth Delight One’, and ‘Smooth Delight Two’ when picked mature. This new nectarine has a nice white ground and flesh color and an attractive red blush over 80% to 90% of the fruit skin surface depending on the environmental conditions (Table 1). The fruit flesh does not brown readily, nor has it shown a tendency to develop split or shattered pits during the final stage of fruit swelling.
‘Smooth Delight Three’ fruit sample from the research plots in California.
Citation: HortScience 59, 9; 10.21273/HORTSCI17846-24
Tree characteristics.
The trees are vigorous with the typical semispreading growth habit similar to ‘TexPrince’ (Byrne and Bacon 2004b), ‘TexKing’ and ‘TexRoyal’ (Byrne and Bacon 1991). No observations have been made on resistance for either peach rust (Tranzschelia discolor) or bacterial leaf spot [Xanthomonas campestris pv. pruni (E. F. Smith) Dye]. This peach has moderately large leaves that are lanceolate with acuminate apices, and crenate margins.
Flowers are showy with a diameter between 32 to 44 mm and petal length of 20 to 22 mm. The five petals are light pink when young, becoming slightly darker near the petal claw. The sepals are brownish red to maroon with green and gray. The reddish-orange anthers are on filaments (13 to 15 mm length) that are equal to or slightly longer than the pistil (15 to 16 mm including ovary). The filaments are white when young and darken to medium pink with advanced maturity. Pollen is yellow and abundant. The tree is self-fertile.
The stones are of medium size (30 to 35 mm in length, 20 to 23 mm in width, and ∼16 to 17 mm in thickness). The dry-stone surface is a light brown color.
Availability
This peach is patented (PP30122, 22 Jan 2019) and can be propagated under license. Requests for budwood should be directed to the Texas A&M Innovation office at innovation@tamus.edu
References Cited
Brooks RM. 1969. Double Delight, Earligold, and June Gold peaches. Fruit Varieties J. 13:22.
Byrne DH, Anderson N. 2014a. Zest peach series: Five medium-chill yellow-fleshed cultivars. HortScience. 49(4):506–508. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.49.4.506.
Byrne DH, Anderson N. 2014b. Smooth Texan nectarines, three medium-chill early-season yellow cultivars. HortScience. 49(8):1095–1096. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.49.8.1095.
Byrne DH, Anderson N. 2014c. ‘Smooth Delight One’ and ‘Smooth Delight Two’ medium-chill subacid nectarines. HortScience. 49(12):1593–1594. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.49.12.1593.
Byrne DH, Anderson N. 2024. Fire Zest One, an early-ripening, non-melting flesh, medium chill peach. HortScience. 59(4):529–530. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17574-23.
Byrne DH, Bacon TA. 1991. ‘TexRoyal’, a medium chilling peach. HortScience. 26(10):1338–1340. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17574-23.
Byrne DH, Bacon TA. 2004a. TexKing, an early ripening medium chill peach. HortScience. 39(2):442–443. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17574-23.
Byrne DH, Bacon TA. 2004b. TexPrince, a mid-season medium chill peach. HortScience. 39(3):631–632. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.39.3.631.
Byrne DH, Kamas J. 1984. ‘Texstar’ peach. HortScience. 19(3):453–454. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.19.3.453.
Luedeling E, Brown PH. 2011. A global analysis of the comparability of winter chill models for fruit and nut trees. Int J Biometeorol. 55(3):411–421. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.19.3.453.
Okie WR. 1998. Handbook of peach and nectarine varieties. Agricultural Research Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 714. US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.
Sherman WB, Andersen PC, Lyrene PM. 1995. ‘Sunmist’ nectarine. HortScience. 30(1):155. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.30.1.155.
Zaiger CF, Zaiger GN, Gardner LM, Zaiger GG. 1995. Nectarine tree ‘Arctic Star’. US Plant Patent No. 9,332. 17 Oct 1995.