Scarlet O'Hara

Peach

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Coconut Ice' and 'White Lady'

Summary: 'Scarlet O'Hara' is a white fleshed peach variety that matures mid-season. The fruit are larger than the fruit of 'Coconut Ice' and 'White Lady' and have a significantly larger amount of overcolour than the reference varieties. The overcolour on the skin of 'Scarlet O'Hara' is pink red, whereas ''White Lady' has dark red overcolour. 'Scarlet O'Hara' has strong anthocyanin colouration through the cream coloured flesh and very strong anthocyanin around the stone. The reference varieties have very weak or no anthocyanin through the flesh and 'White Lady' has medium intensity anthocyanin around the stone. The stone of 'Scarlet O'Hara' moderately adheres to the fruit flesh, while the stone of 'White Lady' is non-adherent.

Description:

TREE: normal type, medium vigour, semi-erect habit

LEAF BLADE: small, up-folded profile, tip recurved downwards, acute base, acute apex, no anthocyanin colouration, weak to moderate serrations on margins
PETIOLE: long
NECTARIES: kidney shaped, more than two

FLOWERING SHOOT: medium to strong anthocyanin colouration, medium to high density of flower buds, flower buds isolated
FLOWER: campanulate shape, greenish yellow calyx, mid-season flowering time
PETAL: elongated, medium size, light to medium pink, no striping, five in number
STAMEN: equal in length to petal, no pollen on anther
PISTIL: always one, stigmas slightly below anthers, pubescence on ovary

FRUIT: mid-season maturity, medium to large size, rounded to ovate in profile view, dimpled tip, symmetric along suture, medium prominence of suture, deep and narrow stalk cavity
FRUIT SKIN: medium to thick, dense pubescence, moderate adherence to flesh, cream-yellow ground colour, pink red overcolour on more than 75% of surface, uniform dotted and striated anthocyanin colouration
FRUIT FLESH: firm, cream to yellow colour, strong anthocyanin directly under skin, very strong anthocyanin around stone, melting texture, no stringiness, very sweet, moderately juicy
STONE: medium size compared to fruit, elongated shape, very few or no splits, medium to strong adherence to flesh

Origin & Breeding History: 'Scarlet O'Hara' originated from an open-pollinated population of seedlings derived from the variety 'Yumyeong'. Seedlings were planted in 1986 at the Hort Research experimental orchard in Havelock Kumeu, Auckland, New Zealand. One seedling was selected in 1989, propagated onto rootstock and planted at the Hort Research orchard at Havelock North, New Zealand for further evaluation. The seedling tree was selected for tree productivity, fruit firmness, fruit size and eating quality. The seedling was subsequently named 'Scarlet O'Hara'. The selection was first asexually propagated in 1989 by budding onto 'Golden Queen' peach seedling rootstock, the standard peach rootstock in New Zealand.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Scarlet O'Hara' were conducted at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, British Columbia from 2002 to 2005. The candidate and reference varieties were planted in close proximity in test blocks located in Field 6 and 10. The original buds were propagated in nurseries in the Certified Budwood Orchard and planted in a soft fruit block "B". The trials consisted of 9 trees per candidate variety and 6 trees of 'White Lady'. All varieties were grafted onto 'Bailey' rootstock and the trees were planted 2 metres apart in the rows. Measured observations were based on a minimum of 15 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Scarlet O'Hara' with reference varieties 'Coconut Ice' and 'White Lady'

Leaf blade length (mm)

Leaf blade width (mm)

Fruit weight (gm)

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Peach: 'Scarlet O'Hara'

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Peach: Reference variety 'Coconut Ice'

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Peach: Reference variety 'White Lady'