Cultivar 345: Acme

Acme is a prairie plum introduced by the University of Saskatchewan in 1960 under the selection number P58-105. Its recorded parentage is native x Prunus salicina from mixed open pollinations. This places it in cold climate plum breeding that used native material and Japanese plum blood. [S3]

Sources describe Acme as a red to dark red plum with yellow flesh and good to excellent dessert quality. Saskatchewan fruit tables call it medium sized, about 1 to 1 1/8 inches across, with tough, slightly astringent skin, juicy mellow flesh, and a sweet flavor. A University of Saskatchewan introduction list gives a larger maximum size, up to about 2 inches, and says the fruit is excellent in quality. [S1] [S2] [S3]

It seems to have been valued mainly as a fresh eating plum. One prairie index lists its use simply as fresh, while the Saskatchewan table rates its dessert quality as good. The prairie index places the season late, and the University of Saskatchewan introduction record places it in early September. [S1] [S2] [S3]

The packet does not give a formal hardiness zone. Acme was introduced through the University of Saskatchewan program and described from field conditions without irrigation at Saskatoon. That places it in prairie growing conditions, even though these sources do not make a direct zone claim. [S3]

Acme is part of the early prairie effort to develop better plums from native and P. salicina material. The surviving records are brief, but clear: a named 1960 Saskatchewan introduction, selected from mixed open pollinations, with red fruit, yellow flesh, and a reputation for sweet fresh eating quality. [S2] [S3]

Summary source basis

• S1: An index of fruit cultivars tested or developed on the Canadian prairies.
• S2: hortfacts_1976_3.pdf
• S3: University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960

This summary currently draws chiefly from hortfacts_1976_3.pdf, with 2 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

“Skin described as tough and slightly astringent; flesh as yellow, juicy, mellow.”
— ^[3]

“Fruit diameter 3.0-3.5; maturity late.”
— ^[2]

“Flavor listed as sweet.”
— ^[3]

“Dessert quality listed as good.”
— ^[3]

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• Parentage listed as native x Prunus salicina, mixed open pollinations.

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Source-story quotations

• P58-105 Acme ... Native x P. salicina. Mixed open pollinations ... 1960 ... fruit up to 2" each way, under field conditions, without irrigation at Saskatoon, dark red, excellent quality, season early Sept.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p7
• P58-105 Acme ... Native x P. salicina. Mixed open pollinations ... 1960 ... fruit up to 2" each way, under field conditions, without irrigation at Saskatoon, dark red, excellent quality, season early Sept.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p7
• P58-105 Acme ... Native x P. salicina. Mixed open pollinations ... 1960 ... fruit up to 2" each way, under field conditions, without irrigation at Saskatoon, dark red, excellent quality, season early Sept.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p7
• P58-105 Acme ... Native x P. salicina. Mixed open pollinations ... 1960 ... fruit up to 2" each way, under field conditions, without irrigation at Saskatoon, dark red, excellent quality, season early Sept.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p7

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context