Sweet orange tree named ‘Florida EV2’

Abstract

The new and distinct sweet orange tree described herein originated as a Valencia somaclone tree regenerated from protoplasts isolated from an embryogenic suspension culture of standard Valencia (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck). Florida EV2 is a true Valencia sweet orange with an altered maturity date that allows for harvest 8-12 weeks earlier than traditional Valencia trees.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of sweet orange tree as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Florida EV2 is illustrated by the accompanying photographs, which show the tree's form, foliage, and fruit. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a tree approximately 6 years old. FIGS. 1-4 were taken during the early winter (December 2014) from the same tree.

(2) FIG. 1Shows a close-up of the mature Florida EV2 fruit with the rind, and a cross-sectional view of the fruit when cut in the center.

(3) FIG. 2Shows the overall mature plant growth habit in December.

(4) FIG. 3Shows a close-up of the mature fruit and heavy cropping on tree.

(5) FIG. 4Shows a close up of a whole, mature fruit.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Phenotypic Description of Citrus Sinensis Florida EV2

(6) The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of Florida EV2. The present botanical description is that of Florida EV2 grown as a 6-year-old tree growing on rough lemon (rootstock) in St. Cloud, Fla. The colors (except those in common terms) are described from The R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society in London (second edition), in association with the Flower Council of Holland. Classification: Botanical.Citrus sinensis (putative). Common name.Sweet orange. Parentage: Female parent.Valencia sweet orange (unpatented). Male parent.N/A. Tree: Ploidy.Diploid. Size.Medium large. Height.3.6 meters. Tree spread.4.0 to 4.5 meters. Vigor.Similar to standard Valencia. Density.Canopies are quite dense. Form.The tree is round shaped with both lateral and upright branches growing toward low to medium angles. Branches with multiple fruit exhibit drooping. Growth habit.Both upright and lateral growth. Trunk and branches: Trunk diameter.13.5 cm at 30 cm above the ground on a 6-year-old tree. Trunk texture.Smooth. Trunk bark color.RHS 198A (greyed-green); irregularly striated with RHS 147A (yellow-green). Crotch angle.First crotch forms a 40- to 45-degree angle, middle crotch forms a 30-degree angle. Branch length.Branches reach 4 meters from the first crotch to the tip of the branch. Branch texture.Relatively smooth, occasionally with thorns or spines. Branch color (shoots from previous flush, hardened, and 4 to 5 mm in diameter).RHS N137A (green). Leaves: Size (lamina average).Length: 109.8 mm. Width: 63.7 mm. L/W ratio: 1.72. Thickness.Regular and average compare to commercial sweet orange. 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 N137A (green). Lower surface (abaxial): RHS 144B (yellow-green). Petiole.Shape: Brevipetiolate (shorter than leaf lamina); junction between petiole and lamina is articulate. Width (petiole wing): Narrow. Shape (petiole wing): Obovate. Length: 18.9 to 21.1 mm. Width: 5.0 to 5.1 mm. Color: RHS N137A (green). Flowers and flower buds: Type.Hermaphroditic. Bearing.Flowers grow from leaf axillaries and leaf terminals singly and in small clusters; single flowers mostly grow from leaf axillaries; each flower branch consists of 7-16 flowers. Flower diameter.Fully open flower has an average diameter of 36.8 to 37.2 mm. Flower depth.Typical flower has an average depth of 14.9 mm. Flower blooming period.First bloom observed Feb. 28, 2015. Full bloom observed Mar. 7, 2015. Flower bud size.Length: Initial visible flower bud is 2.2 mm in length; mature flower bud is 17.2 mm in length. Diameter: Initial visible flower bud is 2.3 mm in diameter; mature flower bud is 6.0 mm in diameter. Shape: Initial visible flower bud has a round ball shape; mature flower bud has an elongated olive shape. Color.RHS143B (green) for initial visible flower bud; RHS155B (white) for mature flower bud, with RHS150D (yellow) spots distributed at tip of the flower bud. Flower petals.Shape: Flat, spatula-shaped. Apex shape: Smooth, acute-shaped. Base shape: Even obtuse. Color: Upper surface RHS155B (white); lower surface RHS155B (white), with RHS150D (yellow-green) spots distributed toward the petal apex. Margin: Smooth. Flower sepal.Number: 5 per flower. Shape: Delta-shaped with acute angle at apex, some sepals with splitting di-triangle points. Length: 4.3 mm. Width: 4.0 mm. Apex shape: Triangle-shaped, some with di-triangle points. Margin: Smooth. Color: Upper surface RHS150D (yellow-green); lower surface RHS149D (yellow-green). Fragrance.Fragrant. Flower pedicel.Length: 6.8 to 7.1 mm. Diameter: 1.0 to 1.2 mm. Color: RHS144D (yellow-green). Reproductive organs: Fertility.Appears self-fertile. Stamen length.13 to 13.2 mm. Anther length.2.8 mm. Anther width.1.2 to 1.3 mm. Anther color.RHS11B (yellow). Anther filament length.10.7 to 10.9 mm. Pollen amount.Abundant/Moderate amount. Pollen color (general).RHS12A (bright-yellow). Pistil number.1. Pistil length.12 to 12.2 mm. Pistil color.RHS 4C (yellow). Style length.8 mm. Style diameter.1.4 to 1.5 mm. Style color.RHS149D (yellow-green). Ovary shape.Oval-shaped. Ovary diameter.3.1 mm. Ovary color.RHS 144D (yellow-green). Fruit: Size.Uniform. Tall.67.5 to 78.2 mm on average. Width.72.9 to 80.5 mm on average. Average weight (per individual fruit).206.2 grams. Shape.Round. Shape (cross-section).Round. Apex.Truncated. Apex cavity diameter.N/A. Base cavity diameter.6.4 to 7.5 mm. Base.Not necked. Harvesting.First harvest around Dec. 10, 2014 (based on season and rootstock); fruit hold on the tree with good quality through January. Fruit stem (short stem connecting the fruit).Length: 9.6 mm. Diameter: 3.8 mm. Color: RHS 198D (greyed-green) with RHS 137A (green) strip. Fruit core.Size: 7.0 mm to 11.0 mm. Color: RHS NN155-B (white). Rind: Adherence.Adherence between albedo (mesocarp) and flesh (endocarp) is strong and evenly distributed from base to apex. Thickness.3.4 to 5.0 mm on average. Texture.Smooth. Color.Flavedo (epicarp): Ranges between RHS 15A (yellow-orange) to RHS 17A (yellow-orange). Albedo (mesocarp): RHS 18B (yellow-orange). Stylar end.Closed. Rind oil cell density.248 oil cells/square cm. Flesh: Number of segments.Average between 11 and 12 segments per fruit. Segment walls.Medium soft with sufficient strength to maintain integrity as separated. Juice.Abundant. Color.Uniformly RHS 21A (yellow-orange). Texture.Medium soft. Vesicles.Length: Arranged from 16.7 to 21 mm on average. Diameter (thickness): 2.5 to 3.4 mm on average. Eating quality as of Dec. 8, 2014.Soluble solids (average): 11.1 Brix. Acidity (average): 0.67%. Ratio: 16.5. Seeds: Type.Polyembryonic. Number.Ranges from 7 to 8. Occasionally some fruit contain less than 7 seeds. Shape.Seed shapes are not uniform. Normal seeds are mostly ventricose/swollen-shaped and clavate, club-shaped. Size.Length: 14 to 14.5 mm. Width: 7.0 to 8.5 mm. Seed coat color.Outer Surface: RHS NN155A (white) and wrinkled. Inner surface: RHS 165B (greyed-orange). Cotyledon color.RHS 157D (green-white). Disease/insect resistance: No apparent differences from standard Valencia.