The 'Fortune' plum, recently released to the New Zealand summerfruit industry through FIPIA New Zealand Ltd, is one of the most exciting introductions to be made available to the summerfruit industry for some time.

ORIGIN

'Fortune' was selected from a cross between 'Laroda' and a United States Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) breeding line, made at the USDA station in Fresno, California in 1967. Both parents have 'Santa Rosa' in their pedigrees. Although the line was selected in 1971, the plum was not released because, at the time, the Californian market requirements were for black-skinned plums such as 'Blackamber' and 'Friar', rather than red-skinned plums such as 'Fortune'. However, when finally `released in the mid-80's, 'Fortune' was rapidly accepted by the Californian plum industry because of its outstanding potential as a fresh market plum. In 1989-90, the plum accounted for 27% (58,000) of all plum trees sold by nurseries in California (Ramming and Tanner, 1993).

EVALUATION UNDER NEW ZEALAND CONDITIONS

Six trees of 'Fortune' were planted in 1990 at the Havelock North Research Orchard. The first major crop was harvested in early February (main pick, 4 Feb), 1994. Fruit size is impressive: mean fruit weight is 150g with some fruit weighing 200g. Fruit are uniformly round and only slightly flattened at the apex; red skinned with a light bloom. Skin finish is good although there is a tendency to scuffing. Fruit is clingstone with a small pit. 'Fortune' plums are sweet and juicy and have a flavour similar to 'Santa Rosa'. After 5 weeks in storage, fruit remained firm and of good quality.

At harvest, flesh colour is light yellow with some red (anthocyanin) pigment near the apex. As fruit ripens after picking, the skin darkens and the red pigment increases within the flesh. At the fully ripe stage, fruit may have dark red flesh. Similar to 'Santa Rosa' strains, fruit is prone to pre-harvest drop, particularly near harvest.

Trees grown at Havelock North on heavy silt loam on 'Myrobalan' stock are vigourous, upright and have grown to over 4 m tall in 4 years. First indications are that trees are precocious if grown on heavy soil. Trees on lighter soil have not grown as well and produced poorly. Growth habit is intermediate between the upright form of 'Blackamber' and the more spreading form of 'Santa Rosa'. The trees have remained healthy and free of stonefruit blast. Bacterial markings were not observed although this will require confirmation through observation over several seasons. Other Californian derived stonefruit in the same block as the 'Fortune' trees showed moderate to severe symptoms of bacterial blast.

POLLINATION

Trees flowered in early September (full bloom,10 Sept). No difficulties were experienced with pollination. Suggested pollinizers include 'Santa Rosa' and 'Laroda'. In some years, flowering may occur earlier than these pollinizers and it is suggtested that Billington be included as a pollinizers.

CONCLUSIONS

Desirable characteristics in plums for New Zealand conditions were outlined by Glucina et al (1990). Tree characteristics included consistent, heavy cropping, precocity and resistance to bacterial disease. Fruit attributes included large size, uniform shape, red skin colour, freedom from bacterial markings, even ripening, firm, sweet aromatic flesh and good storage and shelf-life. 'Fortune' has been shown to be precocious on heavy soils, has tolerance to bacterial diseases and has high fruit quality. Further trialling is necessary to confirm cropping potential over a number of seasons and especially tolerance to disease. Fruit size is very large and of uniform shape. Fruit has very good storage potential. Fruit is sweet tasting with aromatic flavours that are strongly reminiscent of 'Santa Rosa'.

This plum appears to have exciting potential for the summerfruit industry. It is a high quality plum of good storage ability that matures between 'Santa Rosa' and 'Omega'.

REFERENCES

Glucina, P.G.; Hosking, G.; Mills, R. 1990. New Japanese plum cultivars: progress, problems and outlook. The Orchardist of New Zealand 63(9): 17-20.

Ramming, D.W; Tanner, O. 1993. 'Fortune' Plum. HortScience 28(6): 679.