Progress of citrus breeding at the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Japan

The NARO citrus breeding program began with the National Institute of Fruit Tree Science in 1937. So far, 49 cultivars have been developed for fresh fruit.
More than 20 traits are evaluated in the program, with selection based on traits related to fruit quality.
Among the releases, cultivars ‘Asumi’ and ‘Asuki’ have consistently high sugar content, even in Japan’s high-rainfall regions.
Following an increase of imported citrus fruits on the domestic market, NARO set a breeding target to develop cultivars rich in health-promoting components, such as -cryptoxanthin, a carotenoid that contributes to bone health.
However, in response to climate change and labor shortages caused by the aging of farmers, we now prioritize the development of new cultivars that are resistant to disease and physiological disorders while maintaining high fruit quality.
To achieve these goals simultaneously, we use marker-assisted selection to expand the breeding scale.
To optimize breeding strategies, genomic prediction is another key technology.
Here, we introduce the progress and future of NARO’s citrus breeding program.

XV International Citrus Congress

K. Nonaka, H. Hamada, H. Hisanaga, T. Watanabe, S. Goto, T. Shimizu

citrus, crossbreeding, cultivar, marker-assisted selection, genomic prediction

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2026.1448.9