Patent Application
20170202121
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Citrus sinensis.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of sweet orange named ‘Florida EV1’. ‘Florida EV1’ originated as a ‘Valencia’ somaclone tree regenerated from an adventitious bud developed on a nucellar seedling stem piece induced using tissue culture techniques from standard ‘Valencia’ (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) in 1989. Somaclonal variation is defined as variability in plants regenerated from tissue culture that is either induced or uncovered by a tissue culture process. Most somaclonal variation is negative, but if enough plants are examined, positive changes can usually be recovered. Somaclonal variation has been a primary source of genetic variation in sweet orange exploited in citrus improvement programs.
The first asexual reproduction of ‘Florida EV1’ involved grafting of the original tree to ‘Carrizo’ citrange rootstock and planting in Martin County, Fla. in 1989. Thus, ‘Florida EV1’ is a true ‘Valencia’ sweet orange with an altered maturity date that allows for harvest 8-12 weeks earlier than traditional ‘Valencia’ clones.
The new and distinct variety of sweet orange bears fruit that ripens from December through January in central Florida. The trees usually bloom between early to late March in central Florida, depending on the season. ‘Florida EV1’ trees are less upright and of slightly lower vigor than ‘SF14W-62’ and standard ‘Valencia’. Second and third generation trees are less thorny than ‘SF14W-62’, and more similar to traditional ‘Valencia’ selections. Over the past two seasons, ‘Florida EV1’ has matured significantly earlier than the early-maturing ‘SF14W-62’. ‘Florida EV1’ trees bear fruit that is typical of ‘Valencia’, although ‘Florida EV1’ fruit ripen 8-12 weeks earlier than standard ‘Valencia’ clones, based on the brix/acid ratio (Tables 1-3). Juice data from the original tree did not show that ‘Florida EV1’ matures earlier than ‘SF14W-62’, however, fruit on propagated trees have exhibited earlier maturity over the past two seasons. ‘Florida EV1’ appears to be slightly earlier than the partner clone, ‘Florida EV2’. Juice quality of ‘Florida EV1’ is typical of ‘Valencia’ in sugar and acid content, color, and flavor. The fruit are juicy and difficult to peel. Fruit are slightly more seedy than standard ‘Valencia’, with 9-10 seeds per fruit (standard ‘Valencia’ has 4-5 seeds per fruit). The clone appears to be at least as productive as standard ‘Valencia’ clones.
The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of ‘Florida EV1’ when grown under normal horticultural practices in Florida. (1) Fruit ripen 8-12 weeks earlier than standard ‘Valencia’; (2) Fruit have excellent juice quality; and (3) Trees of ‘Florida EV1’ exhibit a less vigorous growth habit, which should facilitate use in Advanced Citrus Production Systems that feature high density plantings.
‘Florida EV1’ produces standard Valencia-type sweet orange fruit, but with a significantly earlier fruit maturation date (8-12 weeks) than standard ‘Valencia’ (Tables 1-3). In Florida, fruit can generally be harvested from December through January, depending on environmental conditions. As shown in Table 3, for the 2014-2015 juice season, fruit from 6-year-old trees on rough lemon rootstock produced juice with a brix/acid ratio of 16, whereas ‘Hamlin’ fruit from the same block produced juice with a brix/acid percent ratio of 12. Juice quality from fruit of ‘Florida EV1’ was much better than standard ‘Hamlin’ in December and January, and more similar to that of standard ‘Valencia’, the highest quality juice orange currently available, with harvest usually beginning in March. The present ‘Florida EV1’ selection therefore provides the processing industry with an opportunity to replace ‘Hamlin’, which is currently the standard early-maturing cultivar in the Florida juice industry. Replacing ‘Hamlin’ with new Valencia types that mature in the same window, such as ‘Florida EV1’, has the potential to significantly improve the flavor and color of NFC (Not From Concentrate) orange juice. Better quality juice may help offset declining orange juice consumption in the United States. In the event of January or February freeze-mandated harvests, this would allow for grade A juice recovery without the economic loss encountered with standard ‘Valencia’ fruit that is not fully mature at the time of harvest. ‘Florida EV1’ has a maturity date similar to that of Valencia somaclone ‘Florida EV2’, but appears to be slightly earlier. Both clones have been significantly earlier than ‘SF14W-62’ (U.S. Pat. No. 21,535) the past two seasons.
‘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.
Phenotypic Description of Citrus sinensis ‘Florida EV1’
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.
