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The Patent Garden

US Plant Patent PP15154

HoneySweet

Plum Tree named ‘HoneySweet’

PUBLIC DOMAIN

Patent expired August 31, 2021. This plant is in the public domain — anyone may propagate and sell it.

No term adjustment or disclaimer is recorded against this patent, so this is the full statutory term — twenty years from the filing date.

Figure 1 of US plant patent PP15154, the photograph of HoneySweet printed in the patent.
Figure 1 from US Plant Patent PP15154, reproduced as printed. Photographs in a plant patent are taken by the applicant. Reproduction of the patent document is permitted; the image is shown whole and uncropped for that reason.

The record

Patent number
PP15154
Filed
August 31, 2001
Granted
September 21, 2004
Expires
August 31, 2021
Assignee
US AGRICULTURE, CORNELL RES FOUNDATION INC, AGRONOMIQUE INST NAT RECH
Inventor
SCORZA RALPH; RAVELONANDRO MICHEL; GONSALVES DENNIS

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of plum is transgenic and is characterized by the presence of the plum pox virus coat protein gene and genes for kanamycin resistance (NPTII) and β-glucuronidase (GUS). The plum pox virus coat protein transgene imparts a high level of resistance to plum pox virus. In field tests, ‘HoneySweet’ has been shown to be immune to transmission of plum pox virus by the natural aphid vectors present at the field test site. When ‘HoneySweet’ is bud-graft inoculated with plum pox virus, it supports only a very low level of virus and is symptomless or shows only transient, very mild symptoms. Fruit of ‘HoneySweet’ is large and sweet, firm and attractive. The tree is productive vigorous, with an upright growth habit.

Show the legal claimThe single numbered claim as granted — the legal text that defines what this patent covers.

We claim: 1. A new and distinct variety of plum tree, substantially as shown and described, which is large, productive, vigorous with an upright growth habit, contains the plum pox virus coat protein gene and is thereby resistant to plum pox virus infection, and produces annual crops of medium to large size, freestone fruit with yellow flesh of firm texture and sweet flavor and blue skin.

Read the full patent: US Plant Patent PP15154 in full — the complete specification, every figure, and the file history.