Patent Grant
PP36418
Common name: Mandarin.
Botanical classification: Citrus reticulata Blanco x Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck.
Variety denomination: ‘Mikanken16’.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Mandarin, Citrus L., which has been given the variety denomination ‘Mikanken16’.
The parent varieties are ‘95-56-25’ (male parent) (not patented in the U.S.) and ‘Mikanken4’ (female parent) (not patented in the U.S.), respectively.
The variety was developed and propagated in Uwajima, Ehime, Japan.
The variety was reproduced asexually by vegetative reproduction by top grafting one-year-old scions on rootstocks, in Uwajima, Ehime, Japan. The name of the rootstock is ‘MIYAGAWAWASE’ (not patented).
In 2004, crossing the parent varieties and collecting seeds were grown in the next year.
In 2005, 2006 seedlings are grown.
In 2007, they were grafted on top of root stock.
In 2010, the first fruit was harvested and lines were primary selected.
In 2013, plants were secondary selected.
From 2012 to 2022 growing tests for their performance.
In 2023, breeding was completed with DUS status confirmed (distinct, uniform, and stable), whereby it was confirmed that the instant tree reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction, and the variety was named ‘Mikanken16’.
Cultivation of the variety does not require special conditions or treatments.
The variety is currently mainly intended for fruit production.
This new mandarin plant ‘Mikanken16’ has leave blades with no emargination at the tip, fruit with dark orange surface color (JHS color chart No. 1306), medium surface roughness, medium filling of the core, and medium to late maturity for consumption (typically April), that distinguish it notably from its female parent ‘Mikanken4’.
Also the fruit of ‘Mikanken16’ having no collar, no navel opening, and no polyembryony of seeds, as well as having medium surface roughness, medium filling of the core, and medium to late maturity for consumption (typically April), distinguishes it notably from comparative variety ‘Shiranuhi’ (not patented) and having no navel opening, and no polyembryony of seeds, as well as having dark orange surface color (JHS color chart No. 1306), medium surface roughness, and medium to late maturity for consumption (typically April), distinguishes it notably from comparative variety ‘Kiyomi’ (not patented).
Specifically, Table 1 below shows a comparison between the instant variety ‘Mikanken16’ and the female parent ‘Mikanken4’ as follows (evaluation based on averages):
A comparison with the male parent ‘95-56-25’ is not available because ‘95-56-25’ was an old breeding line, whose states of characteristics are unknown and for which there are no long living plant materials.
Table 2 below shows a comparison between the instant variety ‘Mikanken16’ and comparative varieties ‘Shiranuhi’ and ‘Kiyomi’ as follows (average evaluation):
In the accompanying drawings, which are as nearly true as is reasonable possible to make in a color illustration of this type:
Due to chemical and/or digital development, processing and printing, the plants or portions of plants depicted in the photographs may or may not be precisely accurate, when compared to the actual botanical specimens.
Table 3 shows the botanical description of the ‘Mikanken16’ plants evaluated in 2022 (including the comparison with the reference plants ‘KIYOMI’ and ‘SHIRANUI’). Values as provided are averages. The ages of the trees evaluated was 6 years, and the location of the trees evaluated was in Uwajima, Ehime, Japan.
The ‘Mikanken16’ plants shown on the photographs were grown at Uwajima, Ehime, Japan. The plants were 3-year grown trees after top grafting. The tree was photographed on Dec. 7, 2016, the flowers were photographed on May 7, 2016, the mature leaves photographed on Jul. 26, 2016 and the fruits were photographed on Mar. 23, 2017.
Colors are given according to the J.H.S. (Japan Horticultural Society) Color Chart.
Other features of the plant are as follows:
