Sweet orange tree named ‘Florida EV1’

Abstract

The new and distinct sweet orange tree described herein originated as a Valencia somaclone tree regenerated from an adventitious bud developed on a nucellar seedling stem piece. Florida EV1 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 EV1 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 5 years old. FIGS. 1-3 were taken during the early winter (December 2014) from the same tree.

(2) FIG. 1Shows a close-up of the mature Florida EV1 Valencia fruit with the rind, and a cross-sectional view of the fruit when cut in the center.

(3) FIG. 2Shows mature Valencia somaclone Florida EV1 fruits hanging on the tree in early winter.

(4) FIG. 3Shows a close-up of the mature Valencia somaclone Florida EV1 fruit.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Phenotypic Description of Citrus sinensis Florida EV1

(5) The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of Florida EV1. The present botanical description is that of Florida EV1 grown as a 5-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. Height.2.1 meters. Tree spread.3.5 to 4 meters. Vigor.Less vigorous than standard Valencia. Density.Canopies are quite dense. Form.The tree is obloid shaped with lateral and upright branches growing toward low to medium angles. Branches with multiple fruits exhibit drooping. Growth habit.Both upright and lateral growth. Trunk and branches: Trunk diameter.9.4 cm at 30 cm above the ground on a 5-year-old tree. Trunk texture.Smooth. Trunk bark color.RHS 197A (greyed-green); irregularly striated with RHS 146C (yellow-green). Crotch angle.First crotch forms a 55- to 60-degree angle, middle crotch forms a 30-degree angle. Branch length.Branches reach 3 meters from the first crotch to the tip of the branch. Branch texture.Relatively smooth, occasionally with thorns. Branch color (shoots from previous flush, hardened and 4 to 5 mm in diameter).RHS 146A (yellow-green). Leaves: Size (lamina average).Length: 123 mm. Width: 71.3 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 147A (yellow-green). Lower surface (abaxial): RHS 146B (yellow-green). Petiole.Shape: Brevipetiolate (shorter than leaf lamina); junction between petiole and lamina is articulate. Width (petiole wing): Very narrow. Shape (petiole wing): Obovate. Length: 15.7 to 23.2 mm. Width: 3.6 to 4.5 mm. Color: RHS 147A (yellow-green). Flowers and flower buds: Type.Hermaphroditic. Bearing.Flowers grow from leaf axillaries and leaf terminals in small clusters, with each flower branch consisting of 5-12 flowers. Flower diameter.Fully open flower has an average diameter of 46.5 to 47 mm. Flower depth.Typical flower has an average depth of 20 mm. Flower blooming period.First bloom observed Feb. 28, 2015. Full bloom observed Mar. 5, 2015. Flower bud size.Length: Initial visible flower bud is 2.8 mm in length; mature flower bud is 21.4 mm in length. Diameter: Initial visible flower bud is 2.9 mm in diameter; mature flower bud is 10.8 mm in diameter. Shape: Initial visible flower bud has a round ball shape; mature flower bud has an elongated olive shape. Color.RHS144D (yellow-green) for initial visible flower bud; RHS155B (white) for mature flower bud, with RHS150D (yellow-green) 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 to the petal apex. Margin: Smooth. Flower sepal.Number: 5 per flower. Shape: Delta-shaped with acute angle at apex. Length: 3.8 mm. Width: 4.4 mm. Apex shape: Triangle-shaped. Margin: Smooth. Color: Upper surface RHS145C (yellow-green); lower surface RHS145A (yellow-green). Fragrance.Fragrant. Flower pedicel.Length: 9.0 to 9.4 mm. Diameter: 1.5 to 1.7 mm. Color: RHS144A (yellow-green). Reproductive organs: Fertility.Appears self-fertile. Stamen length.12.5 to 12.7 mm. Anther length.2.9 mm. Anther width.1.0 to 1.1 mm. Anther color.RHS12B (yellow). Anther filament length.12.8 to 12.9 mm. Pollen amount.Abundant. Pollen color (general).RHS12A (yellow). Pistil number.1. Pistil length.13.1 to 13.2 mm. Pistil color.RHS2D (yellow). Style length.9.6 mm. Style diameter.1.9 to 2.1 mm. Style color.RHS150C (yellow). Ovary shape.Oval-shaped. Ovary diameter.4.5 mm. Ovary color.RHS144C (yellow-green). Fruit: Size.Uniform. Tall.72.5 to 76 mm on average. Width.72.5 to 80 mm on average. Average weight (per individual fruit).219.4 grams. Shape.Round. Shape (cross-section).Round. Apex.Truncated. Apex cavity diameter.N/A. Base cavity diameter.6.3 to 6.5 mm. Base.No neck, slightly winkled at base. Harvesting.First harvest around Dec. 10, 2014 (based on season and rootstock); fruit hold well on the tree through January. Fruit stem (short stem connecting the fruit).Length: 9.7 mm. Diameter: 4.0 mm. Color: RHS 197A (greyed-green) with RHS 144B (yellow-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.5.0 to 5.8 mm on average. Texture.Smooth. Color.Flavedo (epicarp): Ranges between RHS 23A (yellow-orange) to RHS24A (orange). Albedo (mesocarp): RHS 22C (yellow-orange). Stylar end.Closed. Rind oil cell density.268 oil cells/square cm. Flesh: Number of segments.Average between 13 and 14 segments per fruit. Segment walls.Medium soft with sufficient strength to maintain integrity as separated. Juice.Abundant. Color.Uniformly RHS 23B (yellow-orange). Texture.Medium soft. Vesicles.Length: Arranged from 17.8 to 19.6 mm on average. Diameter (thickness): 1.6 to 2.2 mm on average. Eating quality as Dec. 8, 2014.Soluble solids (average): 11.3 Brix. Acidity (average): 0.71%. Ratio: 15.9. Seeds: Type.Polyembryonic. Number.Ranges from 9 to 10. Occasionally some fruit contain less than 9 seeds. Shape.Seed shapes are not uniform. Normal seeds are mostly ventricose/swollen-shaped and clavate, club-shaped. Size.Length: 8.5 to 12.2 mm. Width: 4.2 to 8.1 mm. Seed coat color.Outer Surface: RHS NN155A (white) and wrinkled. Inner surface: RHS 164C (greyed-orange). Cotyledon color.RHS NN155B (white). Disease/insect resistance: No apparent differences from standard Valencia.