CULTIVAR INFO : RUBY STAR * (PR00-33) ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij: Chris Smith, Hannél Ham (Breeding and Evaluation), Ester Lotz (Cold Storage) ), Tel: 021-809 3100 Culdevco: Dr. Leon von Mollendorff, Tel: 021-870 2900 Released: May 2009 Fruit kind: Plum Selection No.: PR00-33 Usage: Dessert Origin: ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij Exclusive Licensee: Culdevco (Pty) Ltd TREE CHARACTERISTICS Chilling requirement Growth habit Flowering (10 % blossoms open) Full bloom (80% blossoms open) Flower shape Bearing habit Disease susceptibility (Normal sprays) Rootstocks evaluated REMARKS Medium (400-600 Infruitec Chilling Units) Spreading 2 nd Week September ** 3 rd Week September ** Rosaceous On both spurs and shoots Normal Maridon THINNING Pollinator Fruit set Blossom or fruit Intensity of flowers Sun Breeze**, Self pollination to be confirmed. Very Good Fruit thinning recommended High FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS Harvest date (first pick) Control cultivar Production (kg/tree) Fruit size distribution Shape Skin colour Flesh colour TSS Texture Stone Storage ability GENERAL Week 5-6 (1 st week February)** >Songold Very good (25 kg/tree @ 4,5 x 1,5 metre)** Count AA-AAA (100-110g/fruit)** Pointed Dark red Yellow At Harvest: 16Brix** Very good taste Medium Semi-free Good at both single and double temperature for 42 days (Experico). Shrivel sheet recommended. Partly funded by DFPT. Late flowering, dark red, pointed plum with very good fruit set and strong vigour. Excellent eating quality with high sugars. * = Plant Breeders Rights: ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij **= Data obtained Bien Donné, Simondium, Western Cape and is not necessarily representative of other areas.
Additional information regarding the newly released Culdevco licenced plum: Compiled by: Leon von Mollendorff (Culdevco), Chris Smith (ARC); Charl Stander (F1) and Gielie Bester (Capespan) Characteristics Since the release of on the 20 th of May 2009 almost 150 hectares of this cultivar have been planted up to the end of 2013. The most important characteristics of are as follows: A late ripening red plum cultivar which is relatively high in sugar content (not as high as African Delight ). A total soluble sugar content of 16 Brix is readily attainable. In most areas is harvested later than African Delight.The flowering period of (normally from mid to end September) is significant later than other competing cultivars such as African Delight and Angeleno. Consequently this cultivar is less exposed to frost in certain areas during early spring. There are indications that adapts better to cooler areas when compared with cultivars such as African Delight. With the correct cultivation practices this cultivar will peak quite easily at a AA/ AAA size. There are indications that this cultivar is less sensitive to late rain and heat waves that occur often during January and February. The fruit of this cultivar are normally well coloured and have a good keeping quality on the tree. This cultivar has excellent cold storage ability at single and dual storage temperatures and was evaluated by Experico over a cold storage period of six weeks with great success for both storage regimes. During the 2012/2013 season approximately 32 688 cartons of were exported and the indications are that these volumes will increase significantly in future. Special cultivation practices is only recommended on Marianna rootstock as the other rootstocks have not yet been evaluated with this cultivar. This cultivar is very sensitive to blossom blight (and the necessary preventative spray applications should be applied timeously for this disease). Songold and Southern Belle (last mentioned in cooler areas) are recommended as cross pollinators for in a 10% ratio. It is a good strategy to use both as cross pollinators to make provision for climate changes over time. The thinning of the fruit, as for most other plum cultivars, takes place between 40 and 60 days after full bloom.
Although has a moderate tree growth which is easily manageable. The leaves tend to have a yellowish colour during spring. This unnatural appearance may be attributed to a copper deficiency. This may be rectified with a leaf application of a copper solution (150 g Copper oxichloride per 100 l of water. The fruit has a prominent tip initially, but develops into a round fruit when ripe. In cooler areas the fruit tend to form a cavity in the tip (to date no splitpit has occurred). is prone to shrivelling and the necessary precautions should be taken to prevent the problem. In this regard the following recommendations are made: o Fruit should be harvested during the coolest time of day to prevent transpiration and keep the loss of moisture to the minimum. Avoid harvesting of fruit at temperatures of 32 C and higher. o Fruit should be harvested within a fruit firmness of 5,5 kg and 9 kg (measured with a penetrometer with a 11 mm tip). o The minimum total soluble solid concentration (TSS) should be at least 13 Brix. o Fruit should be packed as soon as possible after harvest. The same rules apply for as for African Delight. For both cultivars it is important not to leave fruit on the pack house floor overnight as it promotes transpiration and shrivelling. If fruit is to be packed the following day, overnight storage in a cold store set above dew point (12 C to 15 C) is recommended. o Storage in crates in cold stores should be avoided. The warm fruit leads to a drop in the humidity in the cold room and this result in a loss of moisture in the fruit, causing shrivelling. o Pack all fruit in a perforated bag also used for grapes (54 holes of 2 mm each) in a standard plum carton (5,25 kg), to create an artificially high humidity and therefore preventing shrivelling. Fruit of can be stored successfully at -0,5 C at a dual temperature (PD9). It is recommended to not cold stored fruit for longer period than 6 week. It is also recommended to not treat fruit with Smartfresh as variable results were obtained. For any enquiries the following contacts may be used: Dr Leon von Mollendorff at Culdevco, telephone 021 870 2900 or leon@culdevco.co.za or Chris Smith at ARC, telephone 021 809 3360 or smithc@arc.agric.za
Aanvullende inligting ten opsigte van nuut-vrygestelde Culdevco gelisensieerde pruim kultivar: Opgestel deur: Leon von Mollendorff (Culdevco), Chris Smith (LNR); Charl Stander (F1) en Gielie Bester (Capespan) Kenmerke Sedert die vrystelling van die 20ste Mei 2009 is daar nagenoeg 150 ha van die kultivar aangeplant. Die vernaamste eienskappe van sluit onder meer die volgende in: n Laat-rypwordende rooi pruim kultivar met redelike hoë suikers (maar nie so hoog as African Delight ). n Totale oplosbare suikerinhoud van 16⁰ Brix is geredelik haalbaar. In meeste areas word later as African Delight geoes. Die blom periode van is heelwat later as byvoorbeeld ander kompeterende kultivars soos African Delight en Angeleno (wissel gewoonlik van middel tot einde September) en is die kultivar gevolglik minder blootgestel aan ryptoestande in sekere areas in die vroeë lente. Daar is aanduidings dat beter in koeler areas aanpas. Die kultivar kan redelik gemaklik op n AA/AAA grootte piek met die korrekte verbouingspraktyke. Daar is aanduidings dat die kultivar minder gevoelig is vir laat reën en hitte golwe wat gedurende Januarie en Februarie gereeld voorkom. Vrugte van die kultivar is normaalweg goed gekleurd en het n goeie houvermoë aan die boom Die kultivar het ook n uitstekende koelopbergingsvermoë by beide enkel- en dubbele opbergingstemperature en is met groot sukses deur Experico oor n koelopbergingsperiode van 6 weke by beide die opbergingsregimes geëvalueer. Daar is gedurende die 2012/13 seisoen reeds nagenoeg sowat 32 688 kartonne pruime uitgevoer en die aanduidings is dat die volumes sal toeneem oor die volgende paar seisoene. Spesiale verbouingsaksies word slegs op Marianna onderstam aanbeveel aangesien ander onderstamme nog nie saam met die kultivars getoets is nie. Die kultivars is baie gevoelig vir bloeiselversenging en die nodige spuite ter voorkoming van die siekte moet tydig toegedien word. Die afgelope twee seisoene is daar duidelike aanduidings dat Songold en Southern Belle (laasgenoemde in koeler areas), in n 10% verhouding, as ideale kruisbestuiwers met Ruby Star gebruik kan word. Dit is n goeie strategie om beide die twee kruisbestuiwers te plant om voorsiening te maak vir wissellende klimaatskommelinge oor jare. Die uitdun van vrugte, soos meeste ander pruim kultivars, vind plaas tussen 40 en 60 dae na volblom.
Alhoewel n matige groeikrag en n maklike bestuurbare groeiwyse het, is blare geneig om gedurende die lente gelerig te vertoon. Die onnatuurlike voorkoms kan toegeskryf word aan n koper tekort. Die tekorte kan reggestel word deur n blaarbespuiting van n koperoplossing (150 g Koperosksichloried/100 l water) Die vrugte is gepunt, maar ontwikkel in n ronde vrug met rypwording. In koeler areas is die vrugte geneig om n holte ( cavity ) in die punt te vorm (tot op hede het die voorkoms van splitpit nie voorgekom nie). Die vrugte van is ook geneig tot verrimpeling en die nodige voorsorgmaatreëls daarteen moet getref word. In die verband word aanbeveel dat: o Vrugte moet gedurende die koel tydperk van die dag gepluk word om transpirasie en vogverlies tot die minimum te beperk. Vermy die oes van vrugte tydens temperature van 32 C en hoër. o Vrugte moet binne die minimum en maksimum vrugfermheid van 5,5 kg en 9 kg (gemeet met n penetrometer met n 11 mm punt) geoes word. o Die minimum totale oplosbare vastestof konsentrasie (TOVS) moet minstens 13 Brix wees. o Verpak vrugte so gou moontlik na oes. Dieselfde reëls geld in die verband vir Ruby Star sowel as vir African Delight naamlik om nie vrugte oornag op die pakvloer te los nie. Dit bevorder transpirasie en verrimpeling. Indien vrugte eers die volgende dag na oes gepak word, word aanbeveel dat die kratte oornag in n koelkamer bokant doupunt (12 to 15 C) gehou word. o Die opberg van kratte in koelkamers moet ook vermy word. Die warm vrugte het tot gevolg dat die koelkamer humiditeit daal en op sy beurt vogverlies uit vrugte aanhelp en verrimpeling tot gevolg het. o Verpak alle vrugte in n geperforeerde druiwesak (54 gate van 2 mm) in n standaard pruim karton (5,25 kg) om n kunsmatige hoë humiditeit te probeer skep en verrimpeling te beperk. Vrugte van kan by -0,5 C of by dubbeltemperatuur (PD9) met sukses opgeberg word. Tot op die huidige stadium is vrugte slegs vir n opbergingsperiode van 6 weke met sukses geëvalueer. Na vertoë van die bedryf word verdere opbergingsproewe die komende seisoen beplan oor langer opbergingsperiodes. Vir enige verdere navrae kan dr Leon von Mollendorff by Culdevco, telefoon 021 8702900 of leon@culdevco.co.za of Chris Smith by LNR, telefoon 021 8093360 of smithc@arc.agric.za gekontak word.