U.S. patent number PP25,740 [Application Number 13/987,384] was granted by the patent office on 2015-07-28 for pecan tree named `treadwell`.
This patent grant is currently assigned to University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.. Invention is credited to Darrell Sparks.
United States Patent |
PP25,740 |
Sparks |
July 28, 2015 |
Pecan tree named `Treadwell`
Abstract
A pecan tree distinguished by the following unique combination
of characteristics: high precociousness and prolificacy, consistent
production (if fruit thinned), early nut maturity, large nut size
that produces mammoth halves, unusual high percentage kernel,
exceptional kernel color, no kernel speckling has been observed,
high resistance to N scorch, black pecan aphid, pecan leaf scorch
mite, and good resistance to scab fungus.
Inventors: |
Sparks; Darrell (Athens,
GA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. |
Athens |
GA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
University of Georgia Research
Foundation, Inc. (Athens, GA)
|
Family
ID: |
52344754 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/987,384 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2013 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150026848 P1 |
Jan 22, 2015 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/153 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
6/54 (20180501); A01H 5/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/10 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/153 |
Primary Examiner: Grunberg; Anne
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Klarquist Sparkman, LLP
Claims
I claim:
1. A new and distinct cultivar of pecan tree, substantially as
herein illustrated and described.
Description
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant: Carya
illinoinensis.
Variety denomination: `Treadwell`.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of
pecan tree named `Treadwell.` My new tree can be used in gardens or
for commercial production of pecan nuts. This new tree was selected
from seedlings grown from controlled pollination at the University
of Georgia Horticulture Farm in Watkinsville, Ga., in 1989. The
`Treadwell` selection resulted from crossing `Wichita` (unpatented)
as the seed parent with `Pawnee` (unpatented) as the pollen parent.
The resulting tree was selected when growing in a cultivated area
at Watkinsville, Ga.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Treadwell` is distinguished from other pecan varieties known to
the inventor due to the following unique combination of
characteristics: high precociousness and prolificacy, consistent
production (if fruit thinned), early nut maturity, large nut size
that produces mammoth halves, unusual high percentage kernel,
exceptional kernel color, immunity to kernel speckling, high
resistance to N scorch, black pecan aphid, pecan leaf scorch mite,
and good resistance to scab fungus.
Asexual reproduction of `Treadwell` by grafting, (top working) onto
`Desirable` (unpatented) pecan trees in 2002 and 2007 at locations
in Leary, Ga. and Albany, Ga., respectively, was performed in order
to evaluate these trees. Asexual propagation of `Treadwell` pecan
trees has also been performed at other locations in Georgia.
Asexual reproduction of `Treadwell` has shown that the forgoing
characteristics come true to form, are firmly fixed, and are
established and transmitted through succeeding propagations.
Certain characteristics of this variety, such as growth and color,
may change with changing environmental conditions (e.g., light,
temperature, moisture, nutrient availability, or other factors).
Color descriptions and other terminology are used in accordance
with their ordinary dictionary descriptions, unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise. Color designations are made with
reference to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour
Chart.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a photograph showing a fruit cluster of `Treadwell`
pecans.
FIG. 2 is a photograph showing the leaves of `Treadwell`.
FIG. 3 is a photograph showing the characteristic russet shuck of
`Treadwell`.
FIG. 4 is a photograph showing nut shape and kernel characteristics
of `Treadwell`. From left to right in FIG. 4: the top views depict
the suture side and the non-suture side of the nut; and the bottom
views, from left to right, depict the ventral side of the kernel,
the kernel in cross-section (dorsal side up), and the dorsal side
of the kernel.
FIG. 5 is a photograph showing kernel and color of `Cunard,`
`Byrd,` and `Treadwell`, with `Cunard` (now U.S. Plant Pat. No.
24,373) being on the left, `Byrd` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,867)
being in the middle and `Treadwell` being on the right in FIG.
5.
The colors of an illustration of this type may vary with lighting
and other conditions. Therefore, color characteristics of this new
variety should be determined with reference to the observations
described herein, rather than from these illustrations alone.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Botanical
The following detailed description of `Treadwell` is based on
observations of the original tree growing in Watkinsville, Ga. and
of asexually reproduced progeny growing in Albany, Ga. and Leary,
Ga. Varietal name: `Treadwell`. Parentage: Seed parent.--`Wichita`.
Pollen parent.--`Pawnee`. Tree: Overall shape.--Moderately
spreading, height to width ratio is about 1:1. Tree stature is
short and about one half of `Byrd` and `Cunard`. Vigor.--Vigorous,
precocious, `Treadwell` fruited the second year after grafting (top
working) onto `Desirable` trees, and has done so in subsequent
years. Original tree fruited 10 years from seed. Height.--Of
original tree, about 11 meters. Width.--Of original tree, about 11
meters. Trunk.--Of original tree (measured 1/2 meter above ground
level) about 0.8 meters circumference. Trunk bark texture.--Scaly
with tree maturity. Trunk bark color.--Grey (RHS 202B).
Patches.--Trunk has no markings. Branch color.--Branch shoots in
woody stage are Grey-brown (RHS 199A) in color, with Grey-brown
lenticels (RHS 199D) that are elongated and about 1 mm long by 0.05
mm wide. Internodes.--Average internode length is about 1.3 cm,
between the 3.sup.rd and 4.sup.th leaf on a shoot.
Bearing.--Consistent production of fruit if thinned. Disease and
insect resistance.--High resistance to N scorch. High resistance to
black pecan aphid Melanocallis caryaefoliae (Davis). High
resistance to pecan leaf scorch mite Eotetranychus hicorire
(McGregor). Good resistance, but not immunity, to scab
Fusicladosporium effusum (G. Winters) Partridge & Morgan-Jones.
Leaves: The mature leaf is odd pinnate compound, deciduous with
leaflets having a dark green upper surface and a lighter green
lower surface. Each mature leaf has from 13 to 17 leaflets. Leaf
architecture is mixed on the same shoot. Some leaflets droop
slightly whereas on other leaves drooping is not present, opposite
leaflets are oriented at 180.degree. relative to the rachis (see
FIG. 2). Size of mature leaf (fourth leaf from base).--14.4 cm
long, 19.2 cm wide. Peduncle.--Oval in cross-section, tan in color
(RHS 199B). The length of the peduncle of the fourth leaf from the
base is about 4.3 cm. The diameter of the peduncle of the fourth
leaf from the base is about 2.7 mm. Leaflet.--Size and shape:
Fourth leaflet on fourth leaf from base 9.7 cm long by 3.0 cm wide.
Falcate in shape. Base oblique. Margin serrate. Convolution of
leaflets is absent on basal leaves, but increases from basal to
apical leaves on vigorous shoots. Leaflets are non convoluted on
mature trees. Texture: Smooth. Sheen: Glossy. Petiole: Sessile.
Margin: Serrate. Tip shape: Acuminate and narrow. Leaflet color:
Upper leaf surface: Forest green (RHS 137A). Lower leaf surface:
Green (RHS 138A). Pubescence: Upper leaf surface is not pubescent.
Lower surface is pubescent. The length, width and other
measurements were obtained from observations of a typical leaf.
Inflorescence: General.--The `Treadwell` pecan is monoecious,
anemophilous, and protandrous. Flowers.--Pistil flowers are borne
on a determinate spike, with staminate flowers borne on a
determinate pendulous catkin. Three-five individual pistillate
flowers per spike, borne alternately on terminally-positioned
spikes. The pistillate flower is symmetrical with no stamens or
petals. The pedicels are sessile. The staminate or catkin length is
84 mm and width is 6 mm. The staminate color is Green (RHS 144B)
with gold pollen (RHS 3A). The involucre size, which includes the
stigma, is 11.7 mm long by 2.8 mm wide. The flower has one pistil
with an oxblood (RHS 61 A) stigma. The flower has four bracts,
which are green (RHS 144A), lanceolate, 4.4 mm long by 0.5 mm wide
and are fused at the bases, forming a copular involucre. Fruit:
Mature fruit is dehiscent. Shuck.--Green (RHS 144B), russet with
maturity (see FIG. 3). The shuck sutures are slightly winged (see
FIG. 1) and the shuck surface is not indented. `Treadwell` produces
a low percentage (<5%) of undersized fruit ("green pops") in
which the kernel does not develop and the shuck fails to dehisce.
Fruit split during water stage.--Not observed to be a problem.
Shuck decline.--Shuck dieback during kernel formation has not been
observed to be a problem. Nuts: Observations from a limited number
of typical nuts from several growing seasons in Watkinsville, Ga.
Size.--Large, length about 40 mm, width about 21.6 mm (width
measurement taken midway along the length of the nut and across
sutures); length to width ratio about 1.9. Nut flatness (ratio of
width across sutures to width between sutures) is about 1.0.
Form.--Oblong with a blunt (obtuse) base and a round cross section,
apex shape is cuspidate to cuspidate asymmetric, with a grooved
apex. Sutures.--Non-elevated. Dorsal grooves.--Narrow and shallow,
thereby increasing the percentage kernel in the nut. Weight.--8.7
grams per nut (non-limiting soil moisture). Cluster size.--About
2.7 fruits per cluster. Shell texture.--No ridges. Shell
thickness.--Thin, 0.73 mm. Kernel color.--Good color, Greyed-orange
(RHS 165B). Kernel coat.--No speckling has been observed. Kernel
percentage of nut.--About 64 percent (non limiting soil moisture).
Nut maturity.--September 24th. Later than `Byrd` by about 3 days.
Harvestability.--Suitable for machine harvest. Cracking/shelling
ability.--Cracks exceptionally well, percentage of kernels with
intact halves is high. Typically, less than five percent of chipped
or broken kernels were observed.
COMPARISONS TO OTHER VARIETIES
The form of `Treadwell` trees is moderately spreading and similar
to both parents and is shorter in stature than `Byrd`, `Cunard`,
`Morrill` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,335) and most other pecan
varieties. The timing of bud break of `Treadwell` is similar to
`Byrd` and `Cunard` and earlier than `Morrill`, `Stuart`
(unpatented), and many pecan varieties. Thus, `Treadwell` is
somewhat more susceptible to late-spring freezes in Georgia than
`Stuart` and `Morrill`. The leaves of `Treadwell` are dark green
and similar to both parents. Leaflet orientation of `Treadwell`
leaves is unlike `Huffman` (soon to be patent pending), that is,
leaf architecture is mixed on the same shoot. Some leaflets droop
slightly whereas on other leaves drooping is not present, opposite
leaflets are oriented at 180.degree. as in the parent `Pawnee`.
Leaflets are non convoluted in `Treadwell` except on vigorous
shoots. The stigmatic surface of `Treadwell` is oxblood (RHS 61A),
similar to the oxblood color of parent `Pawnee` and in contrast to
the green surface of parent `Wichita` (unpatented). In the
comparison tables below, `Cheyenne`, `Elliott` and `Schley` are
unpatented varieties.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Approximate periods of pollen shedding and
stigma receptivity for `Treadwell` and selected other varieties in
May. ##STR00001## ..... = Period of stigma receptivity. ___ =
Period of pollen shedding.
Tables 2 and 3 below compare the characteristics of nuts from
`Treadwell` with nuts of other pecan varieties.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Comparison of nut characteristics of `Byrd,`
`Pawnee,` `Morrill,` `Cunard,` `Treadwell,` and `Stuart pecan
varieties, Watkinsville, Georgia. Nut Nut Shell Nut Wt./nut Nuts/lb
length Length/ Flatness thickness Kernel Maturity Variety (g) (no.)
(mm) width.sup.z ratio.sup.y (mm) (%) date.sup.x `Byrd` 7.7 bc 60
ab 42.5 b 1.87 c 1.04 b 0.65 c 63.0 b 21 de `Pawnee` 7.6 c 61 a
41.9 bc 1.95 b 0.96 d 0.77 b 59.5 c 20 e `Morrill` 8.5 b 54 bc 47.1
a 2.01 b 1.11 a 0.72 bc 66.2 a 33 b `Cunard` 9.4 a 48 c 47.7 a 2.13
a 1.01 c 0.73 b 61.8 bc 26 c `Treadwell` 7.5 c 61 a 40.1 cd 1.86 c
0.97 d 0.73 b 59.8 c 24 cd `Stuart` 7.5 c 61 a 38.9 d 1.69 d 1.01 c
0.90 a 47.7 d 40 a Means followed by the same letter within a
column are not statistically different, P .ltoreq. 0.05.
.sup.zLength to width ratio = nut length divided by width. Width
was measured midway the length of the nut and across sutures.
.sup.yNut flatness ratio = ratio of nut width across sutures to
width between sutures. Measurements were made midway the length of
the nut. .sup.xDate when shuck dehiscence had occurred on 50% of
the fruit, from September 1.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Nut characteristics of `Morrill,` `Cunard,`
and `Treadwell,` Albany, Georgia. Variety Lbs./tree Nuts/lb. (no.)
Kernel (%) `Morrill` 27 a 45 a 66.2 b `Cunard`.sup.z 32 a 40 a 60.9
a `Treadwell`.sup.z 34 a 52 b 61.3 a Means followed by the same
letter within a column are not statistically different, P .ltoreq.
0.05. Greater nut size and percentage kernel in Albany, Georgia as
compared to Watkinsville, Georgia (Table 2) believed due to better
irrigation and probably higher temperatures in Albany, Georgia.
Soil water was non-limiting at Albany, but not at Watkinsville.
.sup.z`Cunard and `Treadwell` were fruit thinned as needed. About
50% of the fruit was removed. `Morrill` was not fruit thinned.
Pecan nuts of large size that mature relatively early command a
premium price. The price per pound normally declines as the harvest
becomes later. Consequently, cultivars that exhibit early maturity
at harvest are commercially important. The color of a kernel's seed
coat (lighter is preferred), and the percentage kernel of the nut
also affects the selling price of pecans. Nut maturity of
`Treadwell` is early, similar to `Byrd` and `Cunard`, slightly
later than `Pawnee` and 21 days before `Desirable`. `Desirable`
(unpatented) is believed to be the leading cultivar now being
planted in new orchards in Georgia.
As can be seen from Tables 2 and 3, the nut size of `Treadwell`
nuts is similar to that of `Pawnee` and `Byrd` and smaller than
`Cunard` and `Morrill`. However, the nut length is shorter in the
case of `Treadwell` nuts than `Byrd` nuts and the nut shape
differs. As indicated by the length to width ratio, `Treadwell`
nuts are less oblong than `Pawnee` nuts. In cross-section,
`Treadwell` and `Pawnee` nuts are near round (flatness ratio 0.97
and 0.96, respectively) while `Byrd` nuts are flatter on the suture
side than the non-suture side. Referring to Table 2, the shell
thickness of `Treadwell` is similar to `Pawnee` but thicker than
`Byrd`. All three have unusually thin shells, which accounts, in
part, for their high percentage kernel. However, the percentage
kernel of `Treadwell` and `Cunard` nuts is substantially lower than
nuts of `Byrd`, which has a thinner shell. The morphology of the
dorsal grooves also affects percentage kernel. `Morrill` has
exceptional narrow and shallow grooves resulting in a very high
percentage kernel. The percentage kernel is a direct function of
the shell thickness and the percentage of the shell cavity filled
with the kernel.
The percentage kernel of `Treadwell` nuts, as can be seen from
Tables 2 and 3, is high, especially when soil moisture is not
limiting.
Under stress, primarily fruiting stress, when `Pawnee` cultivar
pecan trees are grown in humid southeastern United States, the
kernel seed coats of nuts can develop conspicuous and unattractive
dark spots. This speckling reduces the marketability of these nuts.
Speckling has not been observed to be a problem of `Treadwell` nuts
grown in Georgia. Kernel color is outstanding and superior to the
other two early maturing varieties, `Byrd` and `Cunard`. In
addition, unlike the `Treadwell` cultivar, during a heavy "on" nut
production year for `Pawnee` trees growing in Georgia, kernel
development is relatively poor, resulting in a high percentage of
the nuts being unmarketable or of reduced value.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Precocity of `Byrd`, `Cunard`, `Treadwell`,
`Morrill`, `Desirable`, `Huffman`, and `Stuart`. Variety Years to
initial fruiting .sup.z Cunard 2 Byrd 3 Treadwell 3 Morrill 4
Desirable 4 Huffman 6 Stuart >6 .sup.z Years from planting
nursery trees.
Table 5 below compares the fruiting characteristics of `Byrd,`
`Treadwell,` `Huffman,` `Cunard,` and `Morrill` varieties.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Fruiting characteristics of `Byrd` and
`Morrill`, Albany, Georgia. Variety Years to fruiting (no.) Years
until alternate bearing.sup.z (no.) `Byrd` 2 3 `Treadwell` 2 3
`Huffman` 2 >6 `Cunard` 2 10 `Morrill` 2 >9 .sup.zYears after
top working mature trees to the respective cultivar.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Production and nut characteristics of six
year old pecan trees of `Byrd`, `Cunard`, `Treadwell`, and `Cape
Fear` (unpatented), Leary, Ga. .sup.z Yield Nuts/lb. Kernel Variety
(lb/tree) (no.) (%) Byrd 13.2 a 48.2 bc 63.7 a Cunard 11.8 a 41.4 a
64.3 a Treadwell 6.1 b 48.6 c 64.2 a Cape Fear 2.5 c 46.8 b 56.2 b
Means followed by the same letter are not statistically different,
P .ltoreq. 0.05 n = 26. .sup.z Nut weight and kernel percentage are
higher and nuts per pound is lower than in Table 2 because of
better irrigation.
As apparent from Table 4, the `Treadwell` variety is precocious,
similar to `Byrd` and second only to `Cunard`. Its high precocious
results in early alternate bearing (Table 5), indicating that fruit
load will have to be controlled by mechanical fruit thinning.
During the third year of fruiting, Treadwell is about 2.5 times
more prolific than the standard `Cape Fear` but about 2.0 times
less than `Byrd` and `Cunard` (Table 6). The smaller cluster size
of `Treadwell` than that of `Byrd` and `Cunard` (Table 7) may
account in part for its lower prolificacy but the primary factor is
its short tree stature which can be partially compensated by
increasing the tree density per acre. `Treadwell's` short stature
makes it suited to high density planting which contrasts with
`Byrd`, `Cunard`, `Huffman`, and `Morrill`. However, the difference
in prolificacy as a young tree is not a factor as a mature tree. As
a mature tree, prolificacy of `Treadwell` is equal to the more
precocious `Cunard` (Table 3). This occurs because both cultivars
and `Byrd` produce more nuts as a mature tree than they can
adequately mature or "fill". This problem is universal with
precocity and prolific pecan cultivars. The problem is circumvented
by mechanically removing or thinning the excess fruit.
TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Fruit cluster size of `Byrd,` `Desirable,`
`Morrill,` `Pawnee,` `Cunard,` and `Treadwell,` Watkinsville,
Georgia. Variety Fruit/cluster (no.) `Byrd` 3.1 ab `Desirable` 1.5
d `Morrill` 2.7 bc `Pawnee` 3.1 ab `Cunard` 3.4 a `Treadwell` 2.7
bc `Huffman` 1.7 d Means followed by the same letter are not
statistically different, P .ltoreq. 0.05.
Table 8 below compares N scorch, pecan leaf scorch mite, and leaf
scab susceptibility of `Byrd,` `Morrill,` `Cunard,` `Treadwell,`
and `Desirable.` In addition, `Pawnee` has been observed to be more
susceptible to scab disease than `Treadwell` when grown in Georgia.
`Wichita`, when grown in Georgia's humid climate, is highly
susceptible to scab fungus.
TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 N scorch, pecan leaf scorch mite, and leaf
scab susceptibility of `Byrd,` `Morrill,` `Cunard,` and
`Treadwell`. Pecan leaf Leaf Scab.sup.z Variety N scorch.sup.x
scorch mite.sup.y Leary, 2009 Watkinsville, 2010 `Byrd` 1.2 a 1.1 b
1.0 a 1.4 b `Morrill` 1.5 a 1.2 b 1.3 a 2.0 b `Cunard` 1.1 a 2.2 c
1.3 a 1.8 b `Treadwell` 1.0 a 2.7 a 1.3 a 1.6 b Means followed by
the same letter are not statistically different, P .ltoreq. 0.05, n
= 19. .sup.x1 = no scorch; 2 = <1% of leaves with scorch; 3 = 2
to 20%; 4 = 21 to 40%; 5 = .gtoreq. 41%. .sup.y1 = no damage; 2 =
trace; 3 = multiple lesions; 4 = minor defoliation; 5 = severe
defoliation. .sup.z1 = no scab lesions, 2 = occasional lesion on
leaf, less than 1% of leaves with lesions, 3 = lesions scant on 2
to 10% of leaves, 4 = lesions widespread but no leaf distortion, 5
= lesions widespread and severe leaf distortion.
Table 9 below compares the black pecan aphid resistance of `Byrd,`
`Morrill,` `Cunard,` `Huffman`, `Treadwell,` and `Sumner.`
TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 9 Black pecan aphid susceptibility of `Byrd,`
`Morrill,` `Cunard,` `Huffman` `Treadwell,` and `Sumner,` Leary,
Georgia. Variety Black pecan aphid .sup.x `Byrd` 1.9 a `Morrill`
1.9 a `Cunard` 1.9 a `Huffman` 1.4 b `Treadwell` 2.1 a `Sumner` 1.8
a Means followed by the same letter are not statistically
different, P .ltoreq. 0.05. .sup.x 1 = no injury; 2 = <1% of
leaves with injury; 3 = 1-10% of leaves with injury; 4 = 11-50% of
leaves with injury; 5 = >50% of leaves with injury and partial
defoliation.
Under the humid growing conditions in Georgia, the fruit is highly
susceptible to splitting during the "water stage" (liquid endosperm
stage) of fruit development. Fruit split can occur following rain
and accompanying high humidity in early August in Georgia.
Cultivars with positive nut qualities have become less desirable
for growing in Georgia because of the susceptibility to scab fungus
and water splitting. Water split has not been observed to be a
problem in `Treadwell`.
The `Treadwell` pecan tree is therefore an improved new and
distinct pecan.
* * * * *