Nectarine tree named `Early Juan`

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, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described approximately the third week in May, with first picking on May 13, 1997. The fruit is uniformly medium in size, acidic in flavor, globose to slightly oblong in shape, clingstone in type, medium firm in texture, and dark red in skin color. The variety was a first generation cross using `Early Diamond` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,438) nectarine as the selected seed parent and an unnamed seedling as the selected pollen parent.

We claim: 
     
       1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantially as illustrated and described, that is most similar to its seed parent, the `Early Diamond` U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,438), by producing early maturing nectarines that are full red in skin color and yellow to the stone in flesh color, but is distinguished therefrom and an improvement thereon by producing fruit that ripens one week earlier, that is larger in size, that is less susceptible to split stones, that is clingstone instead of freestone, and that has a bitter kernel instead of sweet.