On September 17, the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) approved a request from the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) to exercise rights to eight new varieties from the Florida Foundation Seed Producers (FFSP). The FCC, which governs the FDOC, will hold exclusive rights to the varieties for eight years. The varieties are recognized for traits that could benefit the Florida citrus sector.
The New Varieties Development and Management Corporation (NVDMC) will serve as the designee for licensing. The FDOC will work with FFSP and NVDMC to support the commercialization, sale, and marketability of the varieties.
Among the approved varieties is KW-5-7, a tangerine with a reasonable level of HLB tolerance, greater alternaria resistance, and a lower seed count than the Dancy tangerine. The 18A-10-47 tangor is nearly seedless, even under cross-pollination, though HLB-susceptible; it performs well under citrus under protective screen conditions for the fresh market and represents an improvement over Honey Murcott.
The N40-16-7-11 Valencia shows high levels of HLB tolerance and has been noted for survival and productivity in the field over 34 years, with fruit quality similar to traditional Valencia. The C7-12-18 mandarin hybrid is early seedless and easy-peeling, maturing mid-season with good color, Brix, and flavor, suitable for the fresh market or blending with not-from-concentrate (NFC) juice.
The C4-14-51 mandarin hybrid is a seedless tangelo with strong HLB tolerance and potential for either the fresh market or NFC juice blending. KE-9-9, another mandarin hybrid, is nearly seedless, easy-peeling, and matures early in the season, also showing favorable color, Brix, and flavor, making it a candidate for the fresh market or NFC juice blending.
The STR-4-1 rootstock is a new diploid rootstock derived from a mutation of X639 and has been noted for its HLB tolerance. Lastly, N40-16-11-7, a grapefruit, is recognized for greater tree growth, health, and yield in HLB-endemic regions when compared to Star Ruby and Ray Ruby.
The FCC's decision to secure rights to these eight varieties allows the FDOC, FFSP, and NVDMC to move forward with development and potential integration of the varieties into Florida's commercial citrus production.
Source: Citrus Industry