Mandarin tree named ‘Marathon’

Abstract

Marathon is a new and distinct hybrid cultivar of mandarin tree (Citrus reticulata) distinguished at least by its seedless, easy-to-peel, and well-colored fruit, the early maturation of its fruit, and the above average length that its fruit can be held on the tree without deterioration.

Claims

1. A new and distinct hybrid cultivar of mandarin tree (Citrus reticulata) named Marathon, as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) This new hybrid mandarin tree is illustrated by the accompanying photographs captured in 2014 (FIGS. 2-5) and 2016 (FIGS. 1 and 6), which show a tree's typical form, foliage, fruit, and flower. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

(2) FIG. 1Shows the overall habit of the original Marathon seedling tree growing on its own roots at approximately 9-years-old in the late winter as it is beginning to decline from Huanglongbing.

(3) FIG. 2Shows a close-up of the mature fruit-bearing habit within the canopy of the original Marathon seedling tree during autumn.

(4) FIG. 3Shows a close-up of the leaves and mature fruit of the original Marathon seedling tree during autumn.

(5) FIG. 4Shows a close-up of fruit, with the rind present, that were obtained during autumn from the original Marathon seedling tree.

(6) FIG. 5Shows a close-up of a fruit cut cross-sectionally that was obtained during autumn from the original Marathon seedling tree.

(7) FIG. 6Shows a close-up of the original Marathon seedling tree during April with old foliage, spring flush, and flowers.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(8) The following detailed description sets forth distinctive characteristics of Marathon. The data that define these characteristics were collected from a 9-year-old tree growing on its own roots at Lake Alfred, Fla. Marathon has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the measurements given may vary when grown in different environments. Further, certain characteristics may vary with plant age. Color descriptions, except those recited in common terms, are based on The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart, 2nd Edition, which was published in London by the R.H.S. in association with Flower Council of Holland. If any R.H.S. color designations below differ from the accompanying photographs, the R.H.S. color designations are accurate. Classification: Botanical.Citrus reticulata hybrid. Common name.Mandarin hybrid or Tangerine. Parentage: Female parent.Daisy mandarin. Male parent.Seedless Kishu small-fruited mandarin. Tree: Ploidy.Diploid. Size.Medium. Height.2.1 m. Tree spread.2.1-2.5 m. Vigor.Vigorous. Density.Canopies are quite dense. Form.The tree is round shaped with lateral and upright branches growing toward low to medium angles. Branches with fruit exhibited drooping. Growth habit.Both upright and lateral growth with low medium angle. Trunk and branches: Trunk diameter.10.8 cm in diameter at 30 cm above from ground. Trunk texture.Smooth. Trunk bark color.RHS 199A (grey-brown) and irregularly striated with RHS N189A (greyed-green). Crotch angle.First crotch from 45-50 degree angle, middle crotch formed 30 degree angle. Branch length.Branch reaches 2.5 meters from the first crotch to the tip of the branch. Branch texture.Relatively smooth occasionally with small thorns or spines. Branch color (shoots from previous flush, hardened and 4-5 mm in diameter).RHS 137A (green). Leaves: Size (lamina average).Length: 98.5 mm. Width: 50 mm. L/W ratio: 1.97. Thickness.Regular and average compared to other commercial mandarin hybrids. Type.Simple. Shape.Elliptical. Apex.Retuse. Base.Acute to sub-obtuse. Margin.Entire and slightly undulate. Surface.Upper surface: Glabrous. Lower surface: Medium veins that are pinnately netted. Color.Upper surface (adaxial): RHS 137A (green). Lower surface (abaxial): RHS 146B (yellow-green). Petiole.Shape: Brevipetiolate (shorter than leaf lamina) and the junction between petiole and lamina is articulate. Width (petiole wing): Very narrow. Shape (petiole wing): Obovate. Length: 9.5-15.0 mm. Width: 2.5-2.8 mm. Color: RHS 137A (green). Flowers: Type.Hermaphrodite. Bearing.Flower grown from leaf axillaries and leaf terminals in single and in small clusters, most single flowers grown from leaf axillaries, each flower branch consists of 8-12 flowers. Flower diameter.Fully open flower with average diameter of 28.1-28.5 mm. Flower depth.Typical flower with average depth of 14 mm. Flower blooming period.First bloom observed Apr. 2, 2016. Full bloom observed Apr. 7, 2016. Earlier flowering is more common in other seasons. Flower bud size.Length: Initial visible flower bud with 1.5 mm in length; mature flower bud with 16 mm in length. Diameter: Initial visible flower bud with 2.0 mm in diameter; mature flower bud with 8.1 mm in diameter. Shape.Initial visible flower bud with round ball shape; mature flower bud with elongated olive shape. Color.RHS 145B (yellow-green) for initial visible flower bud; RHS NN155C (white) for mature flower bud with RHS 150C (yellow-green) spots distributed at tip of the flower bud. Flower petals.Size: Length: 13.7 mm. Width: 8.0 mm. Shape: Flat spatula shaped. Apex shape: Smooth acute shaped. Base shape: Even obtuse. Color: Up surface with RHS NN155A (white); lower surface with RHS NN155B (white) with RHS 150C (yellow-green) spots distributed toward to the petal apex. Margin: Smooth. Flower sepal.Number: 5 per flower. Shape: Delta shaped with acute angle at apex. Length: 1.2 mm. Width: 1.8 mm. Apex shape: Triangle shaped. Margin: Smooth. Color: Upper surface with RHS 145C (yellow-green); lower surface with RHS N144C (yellow-green). Fragrance.Moderately fragrant. Flower pedicel.Length: 4.9-5.0 mm. Diameter: 1.0-1.1 mm. Color: RHS 145A (yellow-green). Reproductive organs: Fertility.Appears self-fertile. Stamen length.9.2-9.4 mm. Anther length.2.0 mm. Anther width.0.8-1.0 mm. Anther color.RHS 10A (yellow). Anther filament length.7.5-7.8 mm. Pollen amount.Abundant. Pollen color (general).RHS 9A (yellow). Pistil number.1. Pistil length.6.0-6.5 mm. Pistil color.RHS 145B (yellow-green). Style length.5.5 mm. Style diameter.1.2-1.3 mm. Style color.RHS 145B (yellow-green). Ovary shape.Oval shaped. Ovary.diameter: 2.7 mm. Ovary color.RHS 143C (green). Fruit: Size.Uniform. Tall: 49.2-51.0 mm in average. Width: 59.3-60.0 mm in average. Average weight (per individual fruit).94.5 grams. Shape.Round. Shape (cross-section).Round. Apex.Truncated with shallow dent. Apex cavity diameter.No cavity. Base cavity diameter.2.4-2.6 mm. Base.Very short necked and wrinkled. Maturity.First pick around Aug. 20, 2015 (based on season and rootstock); last pick around Jan. 14, 2016 though fruit continue to hold on the tree for a longer time (based on season and rootstock). Fruit stem (short stem connecting the fruit).Length: 4.0 mm. Diameter: 2.5 mm. Color: RHS 137B (green) with RHS 199B (grey-brown) strip. Rind: Adherence.Adherence between albedo (mesocarp) and flesh (endocarp) is medium. The adherence is evenly distributed from based to apex. Thickness.2.2-2.3 mm in average. Texture.Smooth. Color.Flavedo (epicarp): Ranges between RHS 25A (orange) to RHS 24A (orange). Albedo (mesocarp): RHS 11B (yellow). Stylar end.Closed. Rind oil cell density.98-100 oil cells/square cm. Flesh: Number of segments.Average between 10-12 segments per fruit. Segment walls.Medium soft with sufficient strength to maintain integrity as separated. Juice.Abundant. Color.Uniformly RHS 24B (orange). Texture.Medium soft. Vesicles.Length: arranged from 10-11 mm in average. Diameter (thickness): 2.9-3.0 mm in average. Eating quality (varies from season to season).Soluble solids (average): 12.5-17.4 Brix (tested from mid-August through late December). Acidity (average): 0.9-0.6% (decreasing, tested from mid-August through late December). Ratio: 14-28, increasing through the season. Seeds: Seedless.