Mandarin tree named ‘UFGlow’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of hybrid citrus tree, denominated UFGlow, bears fruit that ripen in mid October in north central Florida. The tree is evergreen, of medium size, and has a moderately vigorous and semi-spreading growth habit. Trees are self-fertile and bear heavy annual crops of early season fruit that ripen in the second half of October in Gainesville, Fla. Fruit are firm, juicy, sweet tasting, easy peeling, and seedless. Fruit are oblate with a slightly depressed stem end.

Claims

1. A new and distinct mandarin tree called UFGlow as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying figures show UFGlow as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color illustration of this type. The tree, flowers, and fruit may vary in slight detail due to variations in soil type, cultural practices, and climatic condition. The potential for commercial production of fresh fruit by UFGlow is high, due to its mid November ripening, sweet, juicy flesh, easy peeling, and seedless fruit. Colors (except those in common terms) are described according to The Pantone Book of Color, published by H. N. Abrams, Inc., N.Y. 1990.

(2) FIG. 1Shows a typical specimen of the fruit, leaf, and stem of UFGlow demonstrating the attractive shape and exterior coloration of the fruit above a ruler in a stem end view, a blossom end view, a fruit cut longitudinally to better demonstrate fruit shape, and a fruit cut at the equator to show peel thickness, flesh color, and carpels.

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

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The present botanical description is that of the variety grown for 4 years on Carrizo rootstock under the ecological conditions prevailing in Gainesville, Fla.

PHENOTYPIC DESCRIPTION OF UFGLOW

(5) Tree: Ploidy.Diploid. Size.Trees have a medium-small stature. Vigor.Moderately vigorous; trees respond typically to irrigation and fertilization. Tree growth of 1 to 2 feet in height and width occurs the first few growing seasons depending on rootstock. Canopy is dense because branches are compact, resulting in a small tree. Density.Light to medium in branching habit. Weight of fruit will bend branches down considerably and may require pruning of lower branches, especially the first 3 to 4 crops. Form.Short, elliptic to oblong when not pruned. Hardiness.Evergreen and hardy with respect to typical winters in north central Florida. Bearer.Very productive annually without alternate bearing observed. Trees are self-fertile. Trunk: Size.Medium-small trunk diameter, attaining a 12-cm diameter at a height of 50 cm at the end of 16 years growth on the original seedling tree, and 7 cm at a height of 50 cm at the end of 3 years growth on Carrizo rootstock in Gainesville, Fla. Bark color.Older bark gray, Dove (Pantone 15-0000). Branches: Size.Strong growth of scaffold branches. Fruiting branches are mostly small diameter (2 to 4 mm) and twiggy. Color.New wood in spring flush is light green, Grasshopper Green (Pantone 18-0332). The previous summer wood is darker green, Chive (Pantone 19-0323). Thorns.Small thorns (1 to 2 mm in length) occur in the axils of some leaves from just below and slightly to one side of the axillary bud. Leaves.Small, 4.0 to 7.0 cm length, including the petiole; 2.0 to 3.0 cm width. Measurements were made on shoots bearing fruit. Thickness.Average for many citrus varieties. Not noticeably unusual. Form.Elliptic. Apex.Acute. Margin.Crenate, but more strongly in the distal half of the leaf blade. Base.Obtuse. Surface.Upper, glabrous; Lower, less glabrous, with medium veins that are pinnately netted. Color.Lower surface is light green, Spinach Green (Pantone 16-0439); Upper surface is slightly darker green, Artichoke Green (Pantone 18-0125). Petiole.Average 8 mm length and 1 mm in diameter with small wings of 0.5 mm on each side with similar colors to the corresponding leaf surface. Leaflets.Single. Arrangement.Alternate. Leaf retention.Evergreen. Flowers: Blossom period.Flowers in mid to late March most years in Gainesville, but occurring over a 10 to 15 day period. Time and length of bloom are dependent on ambient temperature. Type.Hermaphrodite (perfect flower). Aroma.Highly fragrant. Density.Abundant bouquet bloom in axil of leaves, but also abundant leafy bloom on new growth. Size.Average flower diameter, 2.7 cm; average petal length, 14 mm; width, 6 mm. Texture.Waxy and smooth; margins are smooth. Color.White, Antique white (Pantone 11-0105) at flower opening. Flower parts.Pistil size, shape and color are within the range of standard commercial varieties. There are 5 sepals and petals. Sepals average 2 mm in length and 3 mm wide at the base, and acute at the distal end. Sepals are pale green, Frozen Dew (Pantone 13-0513) with a glaucus margin. Sepals and petals are glabrous. Pistils are 1 per flower. Pistil length (from tip of stigma to base of ovary) averages 8 mm. Ovary is green, Bright Chartreuse (Pantone 14-0445), pedicel is light green, Apple Green (Pantone 15-0543), and stigmatic head is yellow, Lemon Drop (Pantone 12-0736). Flower pedicel is 4 to 5 mm in length. Stamen.Anthers are yellow, Snapdragon (Pantone 13-0840) at flower opening. Number of anthers averages 20. Filaments are white, similar to petals, and length is 7 to 8 mm. Pollen.Abundant and bright yellow, Banana (Pantone 13-0947). Fertility.Fully self fertile, no cross pollination is required. Fruit set is abundant. Fruit: Location.Most fruit are borne on shoot terminals. Maturity when described.Nov. 1, 2014 in Gainesville, Fla. Date of picking.First, mid-October, 2014; Last, Nov. 15, 2014 in Gainesville. Fruit peel becomes puffy and flesh softens indicating over ripeness by December 1. Size.Uniform, small, averaging 120 g per fruit. Size varies with fruit number per tree, soil type, climatic conditions, and cultural practices. Form is slightly squat with a low tendency to sheep nose in some seasons. Average equatorial diameter: 5.5 to 7.5 cm. Average polar length (stem to distal end): 4.5 to 6.0 cm. Peel.Thickness: Epidermis and albedo are medium- thick (3 to 4 mm on average). Tenacity: Loose flesh, peels readily. Color: Orange, Flame Orange (Pantone 15-1157) on fully colored fruit usually by November, but changing from mostly green skin in mid November, depending on incidence of low temperatures. Tendency to crack: None observed. Epidermis: Glabrous with small oil glands slightly lighter than skin between glands, with approximately 75 oil glands per square cm. Epidermis is susceptible to sunburn on exposed fruit surfaces, particularly on upper southwest sides of young trees. Flesh.Ripens: Evenly within each fruit. Texture: Firm and extremely juicy when fully ripe. Juice vesicles: 1 cm in length on average, and tender. Eating quality: Good, sweet, and slightly acidic, with little bitterness. Soluble solids average from 8 to 9 brix at peak ripening in mid October. Color: Orange, Apricot (Pantone 15-1153). Juice is similar in color. Carpels (segments): Number varies from 9 to 12, averaging 10 per fruit. Calyx: Persistent at stem end of fruit, with some pilose pubescence remaining upon ripening, and 6 to 7 mm in diameter with green, Sweet Pea Green (Pantone 15-0531) at first harvest, but yellowing and browning at tip as fruit ripen. Seed: Fruit are typically seedless. On occasion, small aborted seeds are observed. Seed coat color is light brown, Mustard Gold (Pantone 16-1133) when first removed from the fruit. Cotyledon color is green, Olive Green (Pantone 17-0535). Seed size is 2 mm in length, 1 mm in width, and 1 mm thick. Use: Commercial production, ripening in Gainesville, Fla. area by mid October and potentially mid September in the Ft. Pierce, Fla. area. Resistance to disease: High leaf and fruit resistance to scab incited by Elsinoe fawcettii, Alternaria brown spot incited by Alternaria alternata, and melanose incited by Diaporthe citri.