Cultivar 350: Ducie

Ducie is a prairie plum introduced by the University of Saskatchewan in 1960.[S1] [S2] Available records place it among red fruited plum selections tested on the prairies. The fruit is described as up to about 1 1/4 inches long, with moderately firm flesh, and ripening in mid to late September.[S2]

The sources describe its origin differently. The prairie cultivar index lists Ducie as P. nigra × P. salicina.[S1] The University of Saskatchewan introduction list calls it a native × Prunus salicina seedling from mixed open pollinations and gives the introduction number P60-102.[S2] Both sources agree it was introduced by the University of Saskatchewan in 1960.[S1] [S2]

The fruit appears medium sized. The prairie index table gives a diameter of about 3.0 and lists red skin and late maturity.[S1] The Saskatchewan introduction table describes red fruit up to about 1 1/4 inches long, with moderately firm flesh and a season of mid to late September.[S2] The supplied sources do not give a clearer eating or processing use.

The current evidence gives little on tree habit, productivity, or disease. One useful point is that the University of Saskatchewan description was based on field conditions without irrigation at Saskatoon. That gives some practical growing context, though it is not a direct hardiness rating.[S2]

Ducie belongs to the prairie breeding stream that used native plum material and P. salicina to produce cold climate hybrids for the Canadian Prairies.[S1] [S2] That likely explains its place in prairie cultivar indexes and the focus on a late season, red fruited selection suited to Saskatchewan testing conditions.[S1] [S2]

The supplied sources give no direct zone claim. The strongest geographic context is that Ducie was introduced by the University of Saskatchewan in 1960 and included in prairie indexes, with fruit described under non irrigated Saskatoon field conditions.[S1] [S2]

Summary source basis

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

This summary currently draws chiefly from An index of fruit cultivars tested or developed on the Canadian prairies., with 1 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

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

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• Origin listed as P. nigra x P. salicina.
• 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

• P60-102 Ducie ... Native x P. salicina Mixed open pollinations ... 1960 ... Fruit up to 1 1/4" in length ... red, flesh moderately firm, season mid to late Sept.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p7
• P60-102 Ducie ... Native x P. salicina Mixed open pollinations ... 1960 ... Fruit up to 1 1/4" in length ... red, flesh moderately firm, season mid to late Sept.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p7
• P60-102 Ducie ... Native x P. salicina Mixed open pollinations ... 1960 ... Fruit up to 1 1/4" in length ... red, flesh moderately firm, season mid to late Sept.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p7
• P60-102 Ducie ... Native x P. salicina Mixed open pollinations ... 1960 ... Fruit up to 1 1/4" in length ... red, flesh moderately firm, season mid to late Sept.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p7

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context