Orange tree named ‘Red Lina’

Abstract

A new and distinct navel orange distinguished by production of fruit that combines early season maturity and a dark orange to red pigmented rind, (UPOV Group 20), with a pink albedo. It further distinguishes itself with a deep orange red flesh, and early season harvest maturity. Both flesh and juice are consistently darker than commercially known varieties. The new cultivar is a Citrus sinensis, useful for commercial fruit production.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Orange tree named Red Lina as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photographs illustrates in full color examples of typical fruit harvested from Red Lina also known as Rosalina and comparators.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a comparison of the calyices Red Lina and Cara Cara on slightly immature fruit.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a comparison of the calyices Red Lina and Lina on slightly immature fruit.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a lengthwise comparison of Cara Cara, Lina and Red Lina.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates albedo of Cara Cara, Lina and Red Lina.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a hemispherical cross-section of Cara Cara, Lina and Red Lina.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a seven-year-old top grafted tree of Red Lina on navel interstock onto Swingle rootstock.

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates Red Lina albedo and flesh color in comparison with the comparator variety Cara-Cara Navel.

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates Red Lina rind color in comparison with comparator variety Cara-Cara.

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates flowers and foliage of Red Lina.

(11) FIG. 10 illustrates a fruiting tree of Red Lina at approximately 7 years.

(12) The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(13) In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe Red Lina plants grown outdoors under commercial trial conditions in the Cape of South Africa. Measurements and numerical values represent an average from the most typical specimens. Botanical classification: Citrus sinensis Red Lina.

PROPAGATION

(14) Red Lina is typically grafted onto Swingle rootstock.

PLANT

(15) Age of the plant described: Approximately 7 years. Plant habit: Upright. Height: Approximately 2.5 m. Growth rate: Approximately 3 years to reach 185 cm. Plant spread: Approximately 2 m. Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 52-72 cm. Quantity of lateral branches: 2-4. Angle of lateral branches from main trunk: 150-170 degrees. Branching arrangement: Typically 2-3 more vertical main limbs with 1-2 smaller and more horizontal shoots. The vertical shoots rebranch after 52-72 cm. Branch diameter: Average 3.8-5.0 cm. Trunk texture: Minimally rough, slightly striated. Trunk color: Near RHS Grey-Brown N199A. Trunk diameter: Average 8.0 cm on a 3 year old plant. Spines: Density.Absent.

FOLIAGE

(16) Leaf: Average length.Range: 6.5-8.25 cm. Average of 7.6 cm. Average width.Range: 2.8-3.9 cm. Average of 3.2 cm. Shape of blade.Elliptic. Apex.Acute. Base.Broad attenuate. Attachment.Petiolate. Margin.Entire to crenate. Absent or weak undulation. Texture of top surface.Smooth. Texture of underside.Smooth with raised center rib. Aspect.Foliage typically upwardly folded. No twisting or blistering with normal cultural conditions. Color.Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138A. Petiole.Length: Average length 0.75-1.6 cm. Width: Average 0.3 cm. Pubescence: None. Color: Upper and lower surfaces near Green 143B. Petiole Wing: Approximately 7 mm length. Approximately 2 to 3 mm wide. Color and texture identical to leaf.

FLOWER

(17) Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Single rotate flowers emerging from leaf axils. Flowering period: Buds form in the Eastern Cape of South Africa in Mid to Late October. Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 2 weeks. Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning. Bud: Shape.Ovate. Length.Average cm. Diameter.Average 5 mm. Color.Near RHS White 155A. Flower size: Diameter.Average 2.5 cm. Depth.Average 1.5 cm. Corolla/petals: Arrangement.Rotate, fused at base. Not overlapping. Petal quantity.5. Length.Average 1.2 cm. Width.Average 4 to 5 mm. Texture.Smooth without pubescence. Apex.Acute. Base.Fused. Margin.Smooth. Color: Petals are RHS White 155D upon abscission. Calyx/sepals: Filaments separate easily. Quantity per flower.5. Shape.Straight. Length.Average 6-7 mm. Width.Average 1 mm. Texture.Smooth. Color.Upper Surface: Near RHS Green 137A. Lower Surface: Near RHS Green 137A. Pedicel: Length.Average 4-5 mm. Diameter.Average 1 mm. Color.Near RHS Green 137A. Texture.Smooth without pubescence. Fragrance: Sweet, typical Citrus flower scent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(18) Stamens: Number.Most commonly 12. Filament length.Approximately 2.2 cm. Anthers: Shape.Globular. Length.Approximately 0.2 cm. Color.Near RHS Yellow 3A. Pollen.Color: Near RHS Yellow 9C. Quantity: Moderate. Pistil: Number.1. Length.Approximately 0.8 cm. Style.Length: 0.6 cm. Color: Near RHS Green-Yellow 1D. Stigma.Shape: linear. Color: Near RHS Yellow 8D. Ovary Color: RHS Green 143C.

FRUIT

(19) Color exocarp: Near RHS Orange 26A. About 20 to 30% of fruit exhibits streaks near Red 42C. Color mesocarp: Near RHS Yellow-Orange 18D, flushed Red 53D. Flesh color: Near RHS Orange-Red 34B, 34C. Brix at consumption: 10.4 to 11.6. Brix at harvest: 12.5. Acid 0.88 Ratio of 10.50. Diameter: Average diameter at peak: 75 to 85 mm. Segment number per fruit: Medium, 10 to 11. General shape: Round. Fruit neck: Not present. Stalk end depression: Present, deep. Stalk end radial grooves: Intermediate quantity of long grooves. Fruit collar: Absent. Distal end depression: Absent. Areola: Absent. Diameter stylar scar: Large. Persistence of style: None. Naval opening: Always present, medium in size. Absent or weak bulging. Skin/rind texture: Medium to rough. Pitting and pebbling present. Sparse pitting. Peddling moderate, occurring on oil glands only. Rind: Medium thickness, medium strength. Oil glands: Small to medium, very little difference in size. Moderate conspicuousness. Rind oil: Moderate quantity of oil. Inner surface oil glands conspicuous. Fruit core: Densely filled. Rudimentary segments: Variable, from weak to intermediate. Segment wall strength: Moderate. Fruit juiciness: Moderate. Juice vesicles: Medium to long: 8 to 12 mm, thin to medium thickness, 1.5 to 2 mm. Low to medium conspicuousness. Seeds: Not observed to date. Shipping quality: Excellent storage life observed, better than parent variety. In shelf-life tests and hanging on tree, less waste has been observed, less fallen waste fruit is retrieved compared to parent variety. In a test of over 100 fruit graded, rind creasing is observed at less than 5%, whereas the parent consistently shows 5 to 10%.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(20) Disease/pest resistance: No susceptibility nor resistance observed. Temperature tolerance: Tolerates low temperatures to approximately 5 C. without negative effects, tolerates high temperatures to approximately 37 C. without negative effects.