University of California

Dan E Parfitt

Craig E Kallsen

Joseph Maranto

A new male pistachio cultivar (L.) designated as 'UC Westside', to be used advantageously as a pollenizer for commercial female pistachio varieties. ‘UC Westside’ blooms later in the spring than most existing male pistachio cultivars and is particularly characterized by a reduced juvenility period, dense blooms in years with low chill, good pollen viability, and improved bloom synchrony with standard female pistachio varieties, especially ‘Kerman’. It may be used as a replacement for the male cultivar ‘Peters’.

Male pistachio tree named 'UC Westside'

A new male pistachio tree (L.) designated as 'Famoso', particularly characterized by mid- to late-season flowering time, is provided. The male pistachio tree 'Famoso' is further characterized by consistent flowering from year to year, and production of a large amount of pollen over an extended period. In addition, 'Famoso' is characterized by precocious flowering three to four years after budding.

Male pistachio tree named 'Famoso'

A new female pistachio tree (L.) designated as 'Gumdrop', particularly characterized by early flowering time and early harvest date, is provided. The female pistachio tree 'Gumdrop' is further characterized by a high yield of nuts which meet commercial standards, maintaining a low percentage of loose shells and kernels.

Female pistachio tree named 'Gumdrop'

A new male pistachio tree (L.) designated as 'Tejon', particularly characterized by very early to early flowering time, is provided. The male pistachio tree 'Tejon' is further characterized by a large number of flowers. In addition, 'Tejon' is characterized by the production of large quantities of durable pollen with a high germination ratio.

Male pistachio tree named 'Tejon'

A new and distinct variety of pistachio tree denominated 'Randy' is described. This cultivar is an early flowering male that will be used as a pollenizer for 'Golden Hills' and 'Lost Hills'. It has excellent flowering synchrony with &#x2018;Golden Hills&#x2019; and &#x2018;Lost Hills&#x2019; and can be used to cover the earlier part of the &#x2018;Kerman&#x2019; flowering period during seasons in which &#x2018;Kerman&#x2019; flowering is extended. This generally occurs during seasons of low chill, which are expected to become more frequent in the future due to continued global warming &#x2018;Peters&#x2019;, the standard male used to pollenize &#x2018;Kerman&#x2019;, often flowers too late to cover the earlier part of the &#x2018;Kerman&#x2019; bloom period under these conditions. &#x2018;Randy&#x2019; was selected for high pollen viability, durability, and a high level of pollen production (based on visual evaluation). &#x2018;Randy&#x2019; flowers 2 to 4 weeks earlier than &#x2018;Peters&#x2019;, the standard pollenizer for &#x2018;Kerman&#x2019;. &#x2018;Peters&#x2019; flowers too late to be a very effective pollinator for the new cultivars.

Male Pistachio tree named 'Randy'

A new and distinct variety of pistachio tree denominated 'Lost Hills' is described. This selections most significant advantage is the superior size and appearance of the in-shell nut. The variety is less chilling sensitive than 'Kerman' which improves uniformity of foliation, bloom, nut set, nut fill and uniformity of nut maturity at harvest.

Female pistachio tree named 'Lost Hills'

A new and distinct variety of Pistachio tree denominated 'Golden Hills' is described. This selection's most significant advantage over the industry standard is the higher early yield and a greater percentage of this yield is composed of edible split nuts. This variety also has less of a chilling requirement for dormancy resulting in more uniform spring foliation, flowering, pollination and nut maturity at harvest.

Growing community of inventors

Davis, CA, United States of America

Dan E Parfitt