Mandarin plant named ‘RES 19-56’

Abstract

A new and distinct seedless, easy to peel mandarin hybrid, named RES 19-56, with a unique clustered fruit bearing habit that can appeal to citrus hobbyists as an ornamental, but that also has shown potential value for premium early season fresh market production by CUPS or other Citrus growers. Has shown the ability to set large numbers of parthenocarpic fruit in the CUPS production system. These clusters sometimes number 15 or more fruit, having many more than fruit per cluster than other seedless mandarin hybrids.

Claims

1. A new and distinct mandarin plant named RES 19-56 as illustrated and described herein.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The accompanying photographs (as shown in FIGS. 1-3) illustrate the overall appearance of the new mandarin cultivar RES 19-56. These photographs show the colors as true as can be reasonably obtained in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new mandarin cultivar.

(2) FIG. 1A shows a four-year-old tree of the new mandarin cultivar RES 19-56 grown on US 897 rootstock in a CUPS structure, showing tree shape and spreading habit;

(3) FIG. 1B shows a graft union between the new cultivar RES 19-56 and US 897 rootstock, as well as internal branching habit, in a CUPS structure;

(4) FIG. 1C shows a 2.5-year-old field-grown tree of the new cultivar with mature fruit in early November 2023 in north central Florida;

(5) FIG. 2A shows clusters of fruit set on a two-year-old tree of the new cultivar at fruit maturity in a CUPS structure in October 2021 (planted in 2019);

(6) FIG. 2B shows clusters of fruit set on another two-year-old tree of the new cultivar at fruit maturity in a CUPS structure in October 2021 (planted in 2019);

(7) FIG. 2C shows a large cluster of fruit growing on one stem of a 2-year-old tree of the new cultivar in a CUPS structure in October 2021;

(8) FIG. 3A shows fruit from a field-grown tree of the new cultivar in north central Florida, harvested in early November 2023, with easily removed peel, intact segments, spherical shape, and slight neck at the stem end of the fruit;

(9) FIG. 3B shows fruit harvested from trees of the new cultivar grown in a CUPS structure;

(10) FIG. 3C shows juice samples from the individual fruit shown in FIG. 3B;

(11) FIG. 3D shows fruit harvested in late October 2023 from trees of the new cultivar grown in a CUPS structure, cut equatorially;

(12) FIG. 3E shows a close-up view of whole and cut mature fruit of the new cultivar, harvested mid-November 2023 from trees grown in a CUPS structure;

(13) FIG. 4A shows flowering of young flush on a 4-year-old tree of the new cultivar grown in a CUPS structure in Spring 2023;

(14) FIG. 4B shows a close-up view of flowers on a 4-year-old tree of the new cultivar grown in a CUPS structure in Spring 2023, showing range from pre-anthesis through post-anthesis, including one small green fruitlet;

(15) FIG. 4C shows a close-up view of buds and flowers alongside a rule for measurement;

(16) FIG. 4D shows a close-up view of buds and flowers alongside a rule for measurement;

(17) FIG. 4E shows a close-up view of buds and flowers alongside a rule for measurement;

(18) FIG. 5A shows a close-up view of leaves of the new cultivar alongside a ruler for measurement;

(19) FIG. 5B shows a close-up view of leaves of the new cultivar alongside a ruler for measurement; and

(20) FIG. 6 shows typical bud sticks cut for propagation from the new cultivar.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CULTIVAR

(21) In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart, 1986 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

(22) Vegetative descriptions are based on 4.5-year-old trees on US 897 rootstock (not patented), grown in a covered structure (CUPS) in Central Florida, and free of HLB.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(23) Botanical classification: Family.Rutaceae. Botanical name.Citrus reticulata hybrid. Common name.Mandarin. Cultivar.RES 19-56. Parentage: Daisy mandarin (seed parent) x Mukaku Kishu (pollen parent, also known as Seedless Kishu), both publicly available and unprotected cultivars. Tree: Ploidy.Diploid. Size.Medium. Width across row.2.3 meters on average. Width down row.2.4 meters on average. Tree height.2.6 meters on average. Tree canopy diameter.2.7 meters on average. Vigor.Moderate. Density.Dense foliage. Tree shape (form).Oblate (obloid) to round, spreading. Growth habit (current season).Spreading growth habit. Vegetative growth in general is moderate. Trunk: Trunk diameter.Approximately 6.2 cm at 30 cm above the ground. Trunk texture.Relatively smooth. Trunk bark color.RHS N199A. Branches: Branch length.2 meters on average. Branch diameter.3.8 cm on average. Crotch angle.Acute with a degree of 75-80 on average (less than 90 degrees) in the middle of the tree, with some on the outside being more than 90 degrees (110-115). Branch texture.Relatively smooth with very small spines. Branch color.RHS 199B (Grey-Brown Group). Leaves: Size (lamina average).Length: 111 mm on average. Width: 45 mm on average. L/W ratio: 2.4 on average. Thickness: Regular (average thickness). Type: Simple. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acute to retuse. Base: Acute. Margin: Dentated with split end. Surface.Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Medium veins that are pinnately netted. Color.Upper surface (adaxial): RHS 137A (Green Group). Lower surface (abaxial): RHS 137D (Green Group). Petiole.Shape and attachment: Brevipetiolate; shorter than the leaf lamina. The junction between the petiole and the lamina is articulate. Shape (petiole wing): Obovate with a narrow end at the base. Length: 11 mm on average. Width: 1-1.1 mm on average. Color: RHS 137B (Green Group). Flowers: Type.Perfect. Flowers bearing.Single or clusters. Branches have flowers grown in clusters. Each cluster consists of 3-5 flowers. Individual flowers are grown from leafy terminals and leaf axillaries. Flower diameter.20 mm on average. Flower depth.17 mm on average. Flower blooming period.February to March, depending on season. First bloom.Earliest is generally the 1.sup.st of February. Full bloom.Late February to early March, depending on season. Fragrance.Fragrant. Strongly aromatic, typical Citrus blossom fragrance. Flower buds' size.Length: 1.5 mm on average for the initial visible flower bud; 2.3 mm on average for the mature flower buds before opened. Diameter: 1.2 mm on average in the initial visible flower bud; 5.2 mm on average in the mature bud. Flower bud shape.Initial visible flower bud with round dome shape; mature flower bud with elongated olive shape. Flower bud color.RHS 144C (yellow-green) for the initial visible flower bud; RHS NN 155B (white) for mature buds. Reproductive organs: Fertility.Pollen fertile, female sterile. Completely seedless by virtue of arrested embryo development, which is typical of Mukaku Kishu F1 hybrids. Petals.Number: 5. Petal length: 14 mm on average. Petal width: 4.7 mm on average. Petal shape: Flat spatula shape. Apex shape: Smooth with obtuse angle. Base shape: Obtuse. Petal Color: Upper Surface: RHS NN 155C (White Group). Lower surface: RHS NN 155B (White Group). Margin: Smooth. Sepal: Number (per flower): 5. Shape: Delta shaped with an acute angle at apex, although some with flat angle. Length: 3.5 mm on average. Width: 2 mm on average. Apex shape: Acute angle at apex. Margin: Smooth. Color: Upper surface: RHS 158A (Green-White Group). Lower surface: RHS 157A (Green-White Group). Pedicel.Length: 8 mm on average. Diameter: 1.5 mm on average. Color: RHS 144A (Yellow-Green Group). Stamen.Number: 23 per flower on average. Length: 14 mm on average. Anther.Length: 2 mm on average. Width: 0.7 mm on average. Color: RHS 14B (Yellow Orange Group). Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color (general): RHS 13A (Yellow Group). Pistil.Number: 1. Length: 14 mm on average. Color: RHS 153B (Yellow Green Group). Style length: 12 mm on average. Style diameter: 1.4 mm on average. Style color: RHS 144A (Yellow Green Group). Ovary shape: Oval shape. Ovary diameter: 4 mm on average. Ovary color: RHS 145C (Yellow Green Group). Fruit: Size.Small. Average weight (per individual fruit).62.7 g on average. Length (height).6.5 cm on average. Diameter.6.35 cm on average. Shape.Spherical. Shape (cross-section).Round. Glossiness of fruit surface.Medium glossiness. Apex.Round with a small or slight neck at the stem end of the fruit. Base.Round. Areola.Absent. Navel.Absent. Time of maturity.Fruit can be consumed generally between mid-September to mid-December. Harvest.Date of first pick: 15 September. Date of last pick: 15 November. Fruit stem.Length: 10 mm on average. Diameter: 2 mm on average. Color.RHS 189A (Greyed-green Group). Rind: Adherence.Easy to peel. Amount of albedo adhering to the flesh is very small to absent. Thickness.Thin (1.2 mm on average). Texture.Medium firm. Surface texture.Medium smooth. Color.Flavedo (epicarp): RHS N25B (Orange Group). Albedo (mesocarp): RHS N19D (Yellow-Orange Group). Style end.Closed. Rind oil cell density.70-100 cell/square cm. Oil gland size.0.5 mm on average. Flesh: Number of segments.10 on average. Segment length.Not available. Segment width.1.5 cm. Juice.Abundant. Color.RHS 23B Yellow-Orange Group. Texture.Soft to medium. Vesicle thickness.Thin, tender. Length.5 mm on average. Diameter.2 mm on average. Juice quality (from early harvest on 15 Sep. 2021).Brix: 9.9.Acidity (average): 0.6%. Juice color: Not determined. Lb solid/box: Not determined, fresh market variety, not intended for juice processing. Juice quality (from mid-season harvest on 24 Oct. 2022).Brix: 10.4. Acidity (average): 0.43%. Ratio: Approximately 24. Juice color: RHS 23B (Yellow-Orange Group). Lb solid/box: Not determined, fresh market variety, not intended for juice processing. Seeds: Presence.Completely seedless, no seeds ever observed. Fruit parthenocarpy.Yes, fruit set in protected structure in the absence of pollinating insects and without limb girdling or applications of gibberellic acid to support fruit set. Resistance to disease: No systematic disease resistance testing conducted. No obvious disease problems noted, very clean fruit produced with minimal chemical treatments to control diseases.