Abstract
A new and distinct mandarin tree characterized by low viable pollen, female sterility allowing production of seedless fruits, later maturity and compact canopy with significant potential for high density planting and swift achievement of significant yield in a short time.
Claims
1. A new and distinct mandarin tree, named ‘Star Cott 3’, as herein shown and described.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The accompanying illustrations show typical specimens of the tree, flowers, and fruit of ‘Star Cott 3’ depicted in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.
(2) ‘Star Cott 3’ is indicated in photograph illustrations as ‘Super Cott 3’, which was the prior variety name of ‘Star Cott 1’.
(3) FIG. 1 is a photograph of ‘Star Cott 3’ tree with a compact canopy and an upright growth.
(4) FIG. 2 is a photograph of ‘Star Cott 3’ trunk showing that the stem is strong with slightly rough bark. It has a diameter slightly less than the root-stock.
(5) FIG. 3 is a photograph of a ‘Star Cott 3’ first year twig, which is green and glabrous.
(6) FIG. 4 is a photograph of a ‘Star Cott 3’ second year twig, which is striate.
(7) FIG. 5 is a photograph of a ‘Star Cott 3’ leaf, showing ovate and slightly crenate shape.
(8) FIG. 6 is a photograph of a ‘Star Cott 3’ leaf, showing apex slightly emarginated.
(9) FIG. 7 is a photograph of a ‘Star Cott 3’ petiole, showing it is glabrous with no wings.
(10) FIG. 8 is a photograph of a ‘Star Cott 3’ flower with five petals and 16 to 20 stamens.
(11) FIG. 9 is a photograph of ‘Star Cott 3’ young flowers before anthesis.
(12) FIG. 10 is a photograph of a ‘Star Cott 3’ fruit, having a width of about 65 to 67 mm, with an areola that is sometimes obvious and stylar rudimentary scar.
(13) FIG. 11 is a photograph comparing ‘Star Cott 3’ cut fruits (with 0.5 seeds and 9 to 11 segments) and ‘Nadorcott’ cut fruits (16 seeds with 9 to 11 segments).
(14) FIG. 12 is a photograph of a ‘Star Cott 3’ fruit peel, with a thickness of 3.12 mm.
(15) FIG. 13 is a photograph of a ‘Star Cott 3’ fruit juice bag length of 11.42 mm.
(16) FIG. 14 is a photograph of a ‘Star Cott 3’ fruit juice bag width of 4.44 mm.
(17) FIG. 15 is a photograph comparing juice extract from late Valencia and ‘Star Cott 3’ fruit.
(18) FIG. 16 is a photograph of microscopic view of pollen germination test on agar/sucrose medium for ‘Star Cott 3’. Count revealed a germination rate of 8% for ‘Star Cott 3’ compared to more than 60% for ‘Nadorcott’.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
(19) The following is a detailed description of my new mandarin tree cultivar with color descriptions using terminology in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society (London) Colour Chart, 4.sup.th Edition, (2001), except where ordinary dictionary significance of color is indicated. Observations were made of a 5-year old tree. Tree: Plant diameter.—230 cm on a 5 year old tree on Citrus volkameriana root-stock Trunk: stem is firm with a smooth bark; its diameter is equal to the root-stock. See FIG. 2. Canopy.—Vigorous vegetation with marked upright growth resulting in an ellipsoid shape. The density of branches is high; their attachment angle is narrow. See FIG. 1. Twig.—First year twig is glabrous, moderately thick and has a green color. See FIG. 3. It becomes subsequently striate with age. See FIG. 4. No thorns and no spines. Growth conditions.—‘Star Cott 3’ is adapted to very high-density planting (1666 plants/ha) on trifoliate root-stocks and can achieve high yields starting from 3 years of age. No particular farming care techniques are needed to grow ‘Star Cott 3’. It does not require any special conditions beside what is usually applied for ‘Nadorcott’. Stem description: Stem length.—490 mm. Diameter.—108 mm. Texture.—Smooth. Strength.—Strong. Color.—RHS N 199 B dark gray. Leaf description: Unifoliate with an entire margin, it is elliptic in shape and moderately conduplicate with a glabrous non-winged petiole. The lamina has an obtuse apex slightly emarginated. See FIGS. 5-6. Shape.—elliptic. Length.—58 mm. Width.—28 mm. Apex.—Obtuse with slight emargination. Margin.—Entire. Texture (both surfaces).—Glabrous. Color.—Adaxial: RHS 132 C (moderate Green); Abaxial: RHS 132 D (light Green). Petiolate of sessile.—Petiolate. Petiolate length: 7 mm. Petiolate diameter: 0.8 mm. Petiolate color: RHS 139 D (moderate Yellow Green). Root description: Grafted on Citrus volkameriana root-stock. Flowers: Single type of flowers in clusters and single flowers at the tip of a leafy bud. Like ‘Nadorcott’, ‘Star Cott 3’ flowers in mid-March with abundant flowering. Height.—12.5 mm. Diameter.—7.1 mm before anthesis. Typical date of bloom.—Mid-March in Beni Mellal, Morocco. Number of flowers.—1 type in singles and clusters. Color.—RHS 155 D (Yellowish White.) Pedicel.—8 to 10 mm in length. Calyx.—5 mm in diameter with 5 sepals arranged in a cup-like structure. Each sepal has an isosceles triangular shape measuring 3.5 mm at the base and 2.5 mm on the side. Corolla.—Composed of 5 petals (14.5 mm in length and 5.0 mm in width) arranged in a circle in alternation with the sepals. Stamens.—About 20 in number that stick together, arranged in a circle around the pistil and their anthers are positioned around the stigma at about the same height. Rostellum: Length.—9.2 mm. Thickness.—1.2 mm. Color.—RHS 162 A (moderate Yellow). Fruit: Fruit attachment to the stalk is strong with sometimes short radial grooves which are not always conspicuous. No neck is present. Shape.—Slightly larger than longer and has an obloid form. Diameter at equatorial level.—65 mm and it is truncate at both stalk and distal ends. Width.—65 to 67 mm. Texture.—Smooth. Color.—Green fruit — RHS 126 A (medium blue Green); non-dehiscent fruit — RHS 32 C (slightly reddish-Orange). Fruit rind.—Slightly reddish-Orange in color — RHS 32C, and has a thickness of about 2.95 mm shared equally by flavedo and albedo. The rind is dotted with oil glands of about 1 mm in diameter at a density of 30 about per cm.sup.2, and about twice as much tiny oil glands (about 60/cm.sup.2). The albedo is of pinkish White color RHS N155B. Segments.—9 to 11 which are uniform with a thin but firm membrane. Seeds.—Mean seed count under high cross pollination pressure in mixed bloc with ‘Nadorcott’, Rough Lemon and Clementine in adjacent rows was 0.5 per fruit. Seeds are polyembryonic and seed coat is of yellowish-White color (RHS 155 D). Fruit axis.—Hollow with a diameter of about 8 mm. Peel thickness.—3.12 mm. A small stylar scar is visible and a distinct areola is visible on some fruits. No navel is visible when the fruit is peeled. Pulp.—Slight reddish orange color RHS N25B, it is soft and juicy. Juice vesicles are delicate rolls of 8.5 mm long and 3 mm large. The percentage of juice in the endocarp exceeds 50%, Total Soluble Solids (TSS) varies from 10 to 13% and Titratable Acidity (TA) varies between 13 to 0.75% depending on the maturity stage. Production: 5-year old planting with a spacing of 6 by 2 m produces over 50 metric tons per ha. Tolerance to heat wave: ‘Star Cott 3’ is similar to the mother variety ‘Nadorcott’, which is relatively tolerant to mid-spring heat waves that occur in the Mediterranean Basin. Tolerance to frost: ‘Star Cott 3’ is similar to the mother variety ‘Nadorcott’, which is resistant to mild negative temperatures (0 to −3° C.) if the duration does not exceed 1 to 2 hours. If this range of negative temperatures is recorded for several consecutive days, or if temperatures decline below −3° C., the fruit is affected by reduction of juice content and irreversible skin damage, especially fruits of the outer side of the canopy. Disease resistance: No trials have been conducted, however, ‘Star Cott 3’ does not seem to be sensitive to Alternaria. Market use: Fruit of ‘Star Cott 3’ is intended mainly for fresh fruit consumption, as it is the case for the product of ‘Nadorcott’ which is commercialized worldwide.
