Patent Grant
PP26087
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Citrus sinensis.
Variety denomination: ‘OLL-8’.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of sweet orange tree named ‘OLL-8’. ‘OLL-8’ is a somaclone regenerated from embryogenic callus (tissue culture) of ‘Orie Lee Late’ (‘OLL’) sweet orange (unpatented), with high-quality fruit that usually matures in the standard ‘Valencia’ (unpatented) time period. ‘OLL’ is believed to be an irradiation-induced mutant line originating from Pineapple sweet orange in an abandoned USDA trial attempting to generate a seedless Pineapple orange. ‘OLL’ attracted attention because it never dropped fruit, a serious problem with Pineapple, and held quality late into the summer. Propagations of ‘OLL’ were not uniform and included some trees of poor growth and productivity, as well as robust high-yielding trees. In efforts to generate genetically stable clones from the ‘OLL’ selection, tissue cultures (embryogenic callus) were established for the creation of somaclones. ‘OLL-8’ was the most precocious bearing tree among the population of somaclones regenerated. Trueness-to-type of ‘OLL-8’ was demonstrated by topworking two trees to Swingle citrumelo rootstock in CREC Block 18-North 40. Topworked trees are stable and productive, producing true-to-type fruit (for 4 consecutive years). In addition, young trees propagated on various rootstocks are stable and produce true-to-type fruit at multiple trial locations. ‘OLL-8’ was first asexually reproduced in Lake Alfred, Polk County, Fla., by topworking. The first asexually reproduced trees were originally Duncan grapefruit on Swingle citrumelo rootstock, topworked with ‘OLL-8’. Since this time, hundreds of trees have been asexually propagated on multiple rootstocks using standard nursery practices. All asexually reproduced trees have been true-to-type to date.
Sweet orange selection ‘OLL-8’ produces round oranges with internal and external color significantly higher than that of standard ‘Valencia’ and often exceeds that of ‘Rhode Red Valencia’ (Table 1). Fruit holds on the tree exceptionally well, and maintains quality into the summer. ‘OLL’ seedling trees (including ‘OLL-8’) have shown good drought tolerance in the greenhouse, as overgrown trees in small pots rarely wilt, compared to other sweet orange seedlings, and ‘OLL’ somaclone field trees in general have shown better cold-tolerance in the previous two freezes than ‘Valencia’ trees in the same trial block. This apparent improved stress tolerance may be useful in the fight against Huanglongbing disease. Although minimal formal yield data is available, trees of ‘OLL-8’ appear to yield better than standard ‘Valencia’. The original ‘OLL-8’ tree yielded more than five 90-lb boxes of fruit in 2012 (8-year old tree). Sensory (taste panel) analyses have repeatedly indicated that ‘OLL-8’ has a favorable ‘Valencia’-like flavor profile. Therefore, ‘OLL-8’ has potential to improve the not-from-concentrate (NFC) portfolios of citrus juice processors. ‘OLL-8’ fruit generally has high juice content and produces a good number of pounds of solids. ‘OLL-8’ peels easier than a standard ‘Valencia’, but still requires quadrant scoring for clean peeling when grown under Florida conditions. With its added color, ‘OLL-8’ could also be a valuable addition to the Florida fresh market portfolio.
‘OLL-8’ is nearly identical in morphology to the original ‘OLL’ tree, and fruit of ‘OLL-8’ cannot be distinguished from the fruit of the original ‘OLL’ tree. However, the ‘OLL-8’ tree itself represents a significant improvement over the ‘OLL’ parent tree, since it has beneficial traits that can be stably propagated, whereas ‘OLL’ cannot be stably propagated. Parent tree ‘OLL’ is a single tree (i.e., not a commercial variety) of which more than 50% of propagations using standard budwood did not grow off properly, resulting in trees of inferior horticultural quality with poor health, vigor, and productivity. ‘OLL-8’ is a somaclone produced from ‘OLL’, which has proven to be stable during standard budwood propagation, with all propagated trees exhibiting normal health and vigor.
Table 1. Color Score Comparisons of ‘OLL-8’ with Selected Varieties. A color score of 36 is required for grade A orange juice, with higher color scores indicating darker orange color.
‘OLL-8’ 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 colors (except those in common terms) are described from R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society in London (2007, 5th Edition), in association with the Flower Council of Holland. The following photographs are of seven-year-old trees.
FIG. 1—Shows a close-up of the mature fruit with the rind present and cross-sectional view of the fruit when cut in the center (February, 2011).
FIG. 2—Shows the original ‘OLL-8’ tree on Swingle citrumelo rootstock, planted East of St. Cloud, Fla. (February, 2011).
FIG. 3—Shows a top-worked tree of ‘OLL-8’ onto Swingle citrumelo in Lake Alfred, Fla. (February, 2011).
FIG. 4—Shows a close-up view of ‘OLL-8’ sweet orange fruit (February, 2011).
Phenotypic Description of Citrus sinensis ‘OLL-8’
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PP21224 | Grosser et al. | Aug 2010 | P2 |
| PP21356 | Gmitter, Jr. et al. | Oct 2010 | P3 |
| PP21535 | Grosser et al. | Nov 2010 | P2 |
| 20130276180 | Grosser | Oct 2013 | P1 |
| Entry |
|---|
| Citrus. UF University of Florida IFAS Apr. 2013, 2 pp. |
| U.S. Appl. No. 14/121,859, filed Oct. 27, 2014, Grosser. |
| U.S. Appl. No. 13/987,563, filed Aug. 7, 2013, Grosser. |
| Grosser et al., “Highlights from the UF/IFAS/CREC Citrus Improvement Program,” presentation at the Florida Citrus Show, Ft. Pierce, Florida, Jan. 19-20, 2011. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150052645 P1 | Feb 2015 | US |
