Plum (Prunus domestica) ROMAN

Plum (Prunus domestica) 'Roman'

Romanian August variety with large, reddish-blue fruits.

'Roman' is a high-quality Romanian plum variety from the Piteşti – Mărăcineni institute. It shares the same parentage as the ‘Carpatin’ and ‘Centenar’ varieties but ripens in August. It is characterized by large fruits (approx. 60 g) with a specific reddish tint to the skin and crunchy flesh.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Large fruits (approx. 60 g).
• Attractive reddish-blue color.
• Crunchy and harmonious flesh.
• Tolerance to diseases (red leaf spot, plum pocket).
• High production potential.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Romania
• Institution: Fruit Research and Development Institute Piteşti – Mărăcineni
• Parentage: ‘Tuleu Gras’ × ‘Early Rivers’
• Registration: 1978

Variety Characteristics

Tree

• Vigor: Medium.
• Crown: Sparse, with well-defined scaffold branches.
• Yield: High production potential with proper care.

Fruit

• Size and Weight: Large, weighing approximately 60 g.
• Shape and Color: Ovoid. The skin is reddish-blue, covered with a grey bloom.
• Flesh: Yellow-orange, crunchy, balanced juiciness.
• Taste: Harmonious, sweet-sour.
• Stone: Partially separates from the flesh (semi-freestone).
• Usage: Attractive table variety for fresh consumption, also suitable for processing.

Resistance and Requirements

• Disease resistance: Tolerant to Red leaf spot (Polystigma rubrum) and Plum pocket (Taphrina pruni). Moderately resistant to Monilinia in rainy years.

Cultivation Recommendations

• Flowering: Mid-season.
• Pollination: The variety is male sterile (androsterile), therefore it absolutely needs pollinators.
• Suitable pollinators: ‘Anna Spath’, ‘d’Agen’, ‘Stanley’, ‘Count Althann's Gage’, ‘Silvia’.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: First decade of August (August 1st – 10th).