Articles
‘Vera’ mandarin; a new seedless and early clementine-like scion cultivar
Article number
1448_11
Pages
89 – 96
Language
English
Abstract
‘Vera’ is a triploid mandarin hybrid (2n=3x=27) produced by the Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA), Moncada, Valencia, Spain, from open pollination of a tetraploid ‘Clemenules’ clementine in 2005. Plant breeders’ rights have been obtained from the Spanish Office of Vegetable Varieties (OEVV). This cultivar does not produce seeds nor induce seeds in other cultivars by cross-pollination, and is sustainable and environmentally friendly, since it is compatible with the presence of bees in citrus plantings.
This is of great importance today since bee populations have dramatically declined in abundance and diversity in the USA and Europe, making triploid cultivars a bee-friendly option.
The tree is vigorous, without thorns or multi-bud galls, which is characteristic of very early spontaneous mutations of clementines that make tree development very difficult.
It does not show any symptoms of Alternaria fungus on leaves or fruits.
It is a very productive cultivar without alternate bearing and excellent graft-compatibility with ‘Carrizo’ citrange and ‘FA-5’ citrandarin rootstocks.
The fruit is oblate, very similar to ‘Clemenules’ clementine.
The albedo is white in color, the flesh is orange, easy to eat texture, the flavor is sweet, and there is little rag.
The size of the fruit ranges mainly from 50 to 60 mm.
The optimum maturity period is in the beginning of October, although they can be harvested from the second half of September to middle-October, depending on the planting locations.
At maturity, the juice content is over 50%, much higher than other early mandarin cultivars, with a solids/acids ratio of 12, with around 9 g L‑1 of total acids and 11 °Brix of soluble solids.
It is a cultivar with a very good degreening aptitude, without altering the internal and external quality of the fruit.
Its commercial release, licensed under royalty agreements to the Spanish citrus growers, is expected in the near future.
This is of great importance today since bee populations have dramatically declined in abundance and diversity in the USA and Europe, making triploid cultivars a bee-friendly option.
The tree is vigorous, without thorns or multi-bud galls, which is characteristic of very early spontaneous mutations of clementines that make tree development very difficult.
It does not show any symptoms of Alternaria fungus on leaves or fruits.
It is a very productive cultivar without alternate bearing and excellent graft-compatibility with ‘Carrizo’ citrange and ‘FA-5’ citrandarin rootstocks.
The fruit is oblate, very similar to ‘Clemenules’ clementine.
The albedo is white in color, the flesh is orange, easy to eat texture, the flavor is sweet, and there is little rag.
The size of the fruit ranges mainly from 50 to 60 mm.
The optimum maturity period is in the beginning of October, although they can be harvested from the second half of September to middle-October, depending on the planting locations.
At maturity, the juice content is over 50%, much higher than other early mandarin cultivars, with a solids/acids ratio of 12, with around 9 g L‑1 of total acids and 11 °Brix of soluble solids.
It is a cultivar with a very good degreening aptitude, without altering the internal and external quality of the fruit.
Its commercial release, licensed under royalty agreements to the Spanish citrus growers, is expected in the near future.
Publication
Authors
P. Aleza, J. Cuenca, A. Pardo, V. Tejedo, P. Navarro, A. Salvador, J. Juárez, L. Navarro
Keywords
Citrus, triploid, tetraploid, embryo rescue, tissue culture, flow cytometry, sexual hybridizations
Groups involved
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