Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #171886
Title: NOTICE TO FRUIT GROWERS AND NURSERYMEN OF THE RELEASE OF RUBY QUEEN PLUM, (USDA RELEASE NOTICE)

Author
item Okie, William

Submitted to: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Cultivar Release
Publication Type: Germplasm Release
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/4/2004
Publication Date: 6/4/2004
Citation: Okie, W.R. 2004. Notice to fruit growers and nurserymen of the release of Ruby Queen Plum, (USDA Release Notice). USDA, Agricultural Resesarch Service, Cultivar Release.

Interpretive Summary: Ruby Queen is a high-quality, late-ripening fruit developed by ARS-USDA that is well-adapted to the humid climate of the southeastern United States. Ruby Queen has performed well in central Georgia, in New Jersey and New York and is recommended for trial in areas with similar climates. Ruby Queen was first planted at the ARS-USDA location at Byron, GA in 1982. J.M. Thompson first selected Ruby Queen in 1985. At Byron, Ruby Queen blooms with Methley plum and with peaches having a chilling requirement of about 750 hours below 45°F. Flowers are white, and are borne in clusters of 2-3. The anthers shed moderate quantities of pollen. Ruby Queen should be planted adjacent to other plums blooming at the same time to facilitate insect pollination since flowers are probably self-incompatible. In most years heavy thinning has been needed to reduce fruit set and maintain tree vigor. Fruit of Ruby Queen ripen about 3-4 weeks after Santa Rosa and Morris, in mid-late July at Byron. No other adapted plums are available that ripen at this time. Skin color is dark red to reddish-black, covered with a waxy bloom. The red flesh is firm with outstanding flavor. With proper thinning, 2 inch fruit size is common. Fruit shape is round. The medium-sized pit is more or less clingstone.

Technical Abstract: Ruby Queen is a high-quality, late-ripening fruit developed by ARS-USDA that is well-adapted to the humid climate of the southeastern United States. Ruby Queen has performed well in central Georgia, in New Jersey (cooperator Jerry Frecon, Rutgers) and New York (cooperators Bob Andersen and Jay Freer, Cornell) and is recommended for trial in areas with similar climates. Ruby Queen, tested as BY8155-70, is an open-pollinated seedling of BY7607-10 planted at the ARS-USDA location at Byron, GA in 1982. BY7607-10 was a seedling from a cross of Frontier x Redroy. J.M. Thompson first selected Ruby Queen in 1985. At Byron, Ruby Queen blooms with Methley plum and with peaches having a chilling requirement of about 750 hours below 7°C (45°F). Flowers are white, 2 cm in diameter, and are borne in clusters of 2-3. The anthers shed moderate quantities of pollen. Ruby Queen should be planted adjacent to other plums blooming at the same time to facilitate insect pollination since flowers are probably self-incompatible. In most years heavy thinning has been needed to reduce fruit set and maintain tree vigor. Fruit of Ruby Queen ripen about 3-4 weeks after Santa Rosa and Morris, in mid-late July at Byron. No other adapted plums are available that ripen at this time. Skin color is dark red to reddish-black, covered with a waxy bloom. The red flesh is firm with outstanding flavor. Tests in NY show the flesh to have high anti-oxidant levels. With proper thinning, 5 centimeter (2 inch) fruit size is common. Fruit shape is round. The medium-sized pit is more or less clingstone.