057 A New Plumcot Adapted to the Southeastern United States

Abstract

Plumcots are hybrids of plums (usually Japanese-type) and apricots. In recent years, several new plumcots have been released, but most of these have been unreliable croppers and tree health of those tested in the Southeast has been poor. Some do have very high quality fruit, combining the best features of both parents. BY88Z1092 appeared as a chance hybrid in a lot of open-pollinated seedlings from the plum selection BY8111-6, which was a hybrid of BY4-601 (=`Queen Anne'*`Santa Rosa')*`Frontier'. BY8111-6 was a high-quality, midseason plum with black skin and amber flesh. BY88Z1092 blooms about with 750 chill hour peaches, and appears to be somewhat self-fertile. Cropping is heavy at Byron in absence of severe spring frosts. Tree health is good, comparable to local adapted plums such as `Black Ruby'. Trees are upright in growth habit. Fruit of BY88Z11092 ripen in late May, when quality of other adapted plums is insipid. It has firm yellow-orange flesh and a purple-black skin with light pubescence. Flavor is acidic until the fruit begins to soften, at which time it is very good. Fruit size will reach 4 to 5 cm in diameter if properly thinned. BY88Z1092 is in the final stages of testing and will likely be named within the next year.