Key Points
- Program: An advanced late-stage selection from KSU under Professor Kirk Pomper.
- Status: Official release slated for 2025.
- Fruit Metrics: Massive fruit weight (210–360 g) paired with intense sweetness (>24 °Brix).
- Morphology: Features an unusually thick skin, aiding in post-harvest durability.
- Seeds: Low seed-to-pulp ratio (≈5–6%).
- Yield Dynamics: Produces clusters typically with fewer than two fruits, favoring larger individual weight per specimen.
- Vigor: Demonstrates excellent grafting success on common rootstocks.
- Resistance: Observed with "pristine" skin in several trials, suggests good resilience against Phyllosticta.
Variety Description
Summary
KSU “Pomper’s Choice” (HI 1-4) represents the cutting edge of the Kentucky State University breeding program. Formally released in 2025, it is characterized by its significant fruit mass, elite sugar concentration (>24 °Brix), and a seed percentage that rivals the most efficient modern cultivars. While its genetic lineage stems from unknown mixed-seedling populations within the KSU orchard, its sensory profile suggests a phenotype optimized for thickness of texture and complex tropical flavor notes including honey and maple syrup.
Status and Evaluation
Identified from the university's genetic repository, original HI 1-4 trees reached their 10-year production benchmark in 2025. In comparative trials by Adainoo et al. (2024), its consistently high Brix and low seed count placed it at the top of the evaluation list.
Fruit Characteristics
Mass: Average weights range between 210–230 g, though older trial trees have consistently produced individual specimens over 360 g. Skin: Uniquely thick epidermis which helps prevent bruising and potentially confers natural resistance to common fungal pathogens. Flesh: Rich and creamy, described as "thick pudding" in consistency. Seed Content: Mathematically measured at ≈5.5% in the most recent 2024 university assessments.
Production Highlights
Cluster Efficiency: Unlike many wild or older varieties that produce large, small-fruited clusters, Pomper's Choice tends towards solo or duo clusters. This natural thinning results in larger, more marketable fruit. Yield Potential: Mature trees are expected to yield 40–65 fruits per specimen under managed orchard conditions.
Garden and Commercial Outlook
Grower's Perspective: This variety offers a rare combination of "super-sweet" credentials and robust fruit structural integrity. While some social media data might show variances based on younger trees, the standardized research data solidifies its place as an elite 2025 release for Zones 5–8.
Breed Performance Summary
| Indicator | Standardized Value |
|---|---|
| Program Lead | KSU, Prof. Kirk Pomper |
| Official Launch | 2025 Release |
| Fruit Mass Range | ~210–360 g |
| Soluble Solids (°Brix) | >24 (Excellent) |
| Seed-to-Weight % | ~5.5% |
| Est. Yield | 40–65 fruits / tree |