Four New Plum Varieties Developed By UF Researcher

Source(s):
Wayne Sherman wbs@mail.ifas.ufl.edu, (352) 846-2638
Paul Miller epm@mail.ifas.ufl.edu, (352) 392-4711 ext. 298

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GAINESVILLE, Fla.—Four Japanese-type plum varieties, bred in Florida for subtropical growing conditions, may become the basis for a new commercial fruit crop in the state.

“Until now, we could not grow plums commercially in Florida because our winters are too warm. However, we’ve used conventional breeding to modify plum varieties for Florida climatic conditions,” said Wayne Sherman, a professor of fruit genetics at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

“What makes these four Japanese varieties so attractive is that they can be harvested in early to mid-May, weeks before plums from California and other United States sources reach the consumer market,” he said. “From a marketing standpoint, we’re looking at a real window of opportunity for growers in Florida.”

Sherman, who has developed many different fruit varieties over the past 38 years, said the new plum varieties – Gulfbeauty, Gulfruby, Gulfblaze, and Gulfrose – perform well throughout Florida and other states around the Gulf of Mexico. Gulfruby is grown commercially in Australia.

To adapt the plums to Florida’s mild winters, Sherman reduced the amount of “chilling” they need to bloom and set fruit. He also added new disease resistance in the fruit breeding process, making the plums resistant to both leaf spot and plum leaf scald, two major problems that have hindered plum production in the eastern U.S.

In the Gainesville area, for example, the Gulf plums ripen from April through the end of May at five to 10-day intervals. Gulfbeauty, which has dark red skin and sweet, yellow flesh, is the first to ripen. Gulfruby, which has similar characteristics, ripens next. Gulfblaze, with reddish-purple skin and sweet orange-red flesh, ripens about a week later, followed by Gulfrose, which is sweet with blood-red flesh.

“All of these new varieties have the round shape, good flavor and aroma we have come to expect from plums,” Sherman said. “They are resistant to bruising, which means they ship well. They also have the tart skins typical of Japanese-type plums.”

He said the Gulf plums can set large quantities of fruit, and may need fruit thinning to prevent tree limbs from breaking and to produce large, good quality fruit.

Sherman said Gulfruby has not been patented and may be freely propagated. Trees of the other Gulf plums can be obtained from commercial nurseries.

Paul Miller, a biologist in the horticultural sciences department, has grown plum trees for commercial production since the mid 1980’s. “They are easy to grow, and if you’ve raised peaches, you can grow plums,” he said. “Pruning, fruit thinning and protecting the blooms or fruit from freezing temperatures are activities that concern growers.”

The trees, sold as bare-root plants or in pots, will be available at nurseries and many garden centers in Florida from December through February. Gulf plums bear fruit in their second year of growth.

“They are not self-fruitful, which means that pollinating insects, usually honeybees, will need access to a different variety of the Gulf series for fruit set to occur,” Miller said.

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Posted: October 28, 2003


Category: UF/IFAS



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