Citrus reticulata Blanco plant named ‘Tamnaneunbong’

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Citrus reticulata Blanco.

Variety denomination: ‘Tamnaneunbong’.

The new and distinct cultivar is a product of a breeding program by the inventors. This cultivar was developed by embryo sac culture. The embryo sac culture of ‘Shiranui’ (not patented) was carried out in 2000. The characteristic investigation of these nucellar seedlings was done from 2007 to 2010 in a greenhouse. The first screening was carried out in 2007, and the last screening was carried out in 2010. One new variety was picked and named ‘Tamnaneunbong’.

The somatic cells of the nucellar tissue can also develop into embryos, called nucellar embryos, and then germinated into a plurality of nucellar seedings. The candidate varity is developed from the nucellar embryos of the femle parent. The variety was asexually propagated by grafting onto ‘Satsuma’ rootstock (or trifoliate orange rootstock) in Jeju-do, Korea for three generations and there was no genetic variation. The observed plant retains its distinctive characteristics and reproduces true to type in successive generations. Therefore, its traits are stable. The rootstock of ‘Satsuma’ is the tangerine tree and tangerine has no patent status.

The fruit characteristics of ‘Tamnaneunbong’ are in the table below. The test carried out from 2007 to 2010. ‘Shiranui’ was 5 years old in 2007. The ‘Tamnaneunbong’ was the nucellar seedling in this table.

Additional fruit characteristics of ‘Tamnaneunbong’ are in the table below. ‘Shiranui’ was 8 years old in 2010. The ‘Tamnaneunbong’ was grafted onto five years old ‘Shiranui’ three years ago.

The cultivar ‘Tamnaneunbong’ has not been observed under every possible environmental conditions. Therefore, there may be variations in the phenotype due to varying environmental conditions such as temperature, day length and light intensity. However, the genotype will not vary.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the characteristics of the new cultivar of Citrus reticulata Blanco. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Tamnaneunbong’ from and all other varieties of Citrus reticulata Blanco known to Inventors.

1. The plant type of ‘Tamnaneunbong’ is upright and the tree vigor is strong. 2. Ovary shape of ‘Tamnaneunbong’ is short oval. 3. The fruit color is orange. 4. Germination stage is in the middle of April. 5. Blooming stage is in late May. 6. Fruits start coloring in late October. 7. The mature stage is in late March. 8. Acidity of the fruit juice is about 1.51%. 9. The leaf length is about 10.1 cm and the leaf width is about 4.3 cm. 10. The length of leaf petiole is about 3.6 cm.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Tamnaneunbong’ are similar to plants of the seed parent ‘Shiranui’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, the plants of the new cultivar ‘Tamnaneunbong’ produce fruit that are more acidic than the parent. The fruit produced by ‘Tamnaeunbong’ start coloring in late October and mature in late March.

The new cultivar differs from the closest comparable plants as shown in the tables below:

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Citrus reticulata Blanco ‘Tamnaneunbong’ showing colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproduction of this type. These photos were taken in 2010 in Korea. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of the ‘Tamnaneunbong’.

FIG. 1 provides multiple views of the ovaries of the fruits harvested from ‘Tamnaneunbong’ and ‘Shiranui’. The four ovaries on the left of the photograph are ovaries of the fruit harvested from ‘Shiranui’ while the four ovaries on the right of the photograph are ovaries of the fruit harvested from ‘Tamnaneunbong’. All are from ten years old plants.

FIG. 2 provides multiple views of typical fruits harvested from ten years old ‘Tamnaneunbong’ plants. Top, bottom and side views of the whole, unpeeled fruit is shown as well as two cross-sectional views of the inside of the fruit.

FIG. 3 provides multiple views of typical fruits harvested from ten years old ‘Shiranui’ plants. Top, bottom and side views of the whole, unpeeled fruit is shown as well as two cross-sectional views of the inside of the fruit

FIG. 4 illustrates in full color typical foliage and fruits of ‘Tamnaneunbong’ on the ten years old tree.

FIG. 5 illustrates in full color typical foliage and fruits of ‘Shiranui’ on the ten years old tree.

In the following description of the new cultivar ‘Tamnaneunbong’ as taken from tests carried from 2007 to 2010. The characteristics of the overall ‘Tamnaneunbong’ plant include strong tree vigor, erect-type tree form, fruit shape which is oblate, orange pericarp color, orange flesh color, strong fragrance and moderate oil glands. The following observations and measurements describe ‘Tamnaneunbong’ plants grown in Korea.

The Colour Chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, 2007, Fifth edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used.

Propagation: ‘Tamnaneunbong’ is typically grafted onto rootstock of ‘Shiranui’.

Plant:

Age of plant described .—Approximately 3 years old. Vigor .—Strong. Plant posture .—Upright.

Foliage:

Young shoot thickness.— 2.6 mm. Young shoot length.— 20.0 cm. Stem internode length.— 1.9 cm. Leaf color .—Green. Leaf length.— 10.1 cm. Leaf width.— 4.3 cm. Leaf length/width ratio.— 2.4. Leaf thickness.— 0.032 mm. Leaf petiole length.— 3.6 mm. Leaf petiole thickness.— 1.9 mm. Leaf arrangement .—Alternate. Venation pattern .—Pinnate. Leaf margins .—Crenate. Texture of the leaf .—Smooth. Length and color of stipules .—Absent of stipules.

Flower:

Flower petal length.— 16.3 mm. Flower petal width.— 8.1 mm. Ovary shape .—Short oval. Flower .—Pollen absent. Flower diameter .—About 2.3 cm to about 2.6 cm when fully opened. Petal length .—About 1.58 cm to about 1.85 cm. Petal width .—About 0.76 cm to about 0.95 cm. Petal texture .—Smooth. Petal margin .—Smooth. Petal color upper and lower surfaces .—RHS NN 155 White C. Flower bud color .—RHS NN 155 White C. Flower bud shape .—Oval. Flower bud size .—Medium. Flower fragrance .—Present. Average number of flowers per panicle .—About 5. Ovary shape .—Short oval. Style length .—About 14.5 mm to about 17.5 mm. Stamen number .—About 15 to about 21, with complete style development. Stamen length .—About 9.5 mm to about 14.5 mm. Anther color .—White (RHS White NN155A). Pollinator .—Not required. Parthenocarpy trait .—Present. Pedicle length.— 1.1 cm. Pedicle color .—RHS Yellow-Green Group 144M. In Jeju-do, Korea, the time for the first bloom is approximately March 15th, the end of bloom is approximately April 25th.

Fruit:

Regarding the observed plant's drought/heat tolerance, although the variety has not been tested for drought and heat resistance, it can grow at a temperature of about 40° C. and without irrigation for about 45 days. Such conditions do not have much effect on the growth of the variety.