The November 2012 edition of “Citrus Nursery Source” provided a basic explanation of FAST TRACK, a new and innovative model for trial, evaluation, and potential release of heretofore untested UF/IFAS citrus selections. FAST TRACK is designed for new selections that produce “commercially viable” fruit, but about which little else is known (production, disease tolerance, soil adaptability, etc.). FAST TRACK will employ the collective expertise of Florida citrus growers to identify the best candidates and sets forth a framework for incentivizing early adoption and commercializing new varieties.
UF/IFAS and Florida Foundation Seed Producers have announced a collection of nine new citrus selections for the first early trial and evaluation program. This list has expanded considerably, and now contains selections of interest for specialty, grapefruit, and pummelo growers. Statewide and regional meetings will soon be scheduled to inform nurseries and growers about the early evaluation opportunity and how they can position themselves on the cutting edge of varietal innovation.
Nurseries are encouraged to share this information with their clientele. Remember, these varieties are experimental and sale of fruit will not be allowed during the evaluation stage of the program.
Clearly, there is much to be excited about in the world of variety development. Nurseries and growers will not likely elect to be involved with all of these, only those that are the best fit. The key point to remember is that those who participate in the evaluation stage will be rewarded with preferential rates and a head start, should the selection become a commercial variety. Watch for updates about this program.
Below and in the following pages are snapshots of the first nine.
UF 411
- Large mid-season tangerine type (January)
- Has some seeds
- Easy peel
- Exceptional flavor
- Productive
- Achieves good external color on its own
2. UF 900
- Early season tangerine type (September to October)
- Typical tangerine size range
- Some seeds
- Easy peel
- Great early and natural color
- Great flavor; Ratio 12 to 14
3. UF 950
- Mid-season tangerine/mandarin type (December)
- Clementine-size fruit
- Easy peel
- Seedless
- Better and more orange color than clementine
- Better flavor than clementine; Ratios 13 to 16
4. UF N40W-6-3 “Seedless Snack”
- Early season tangerine/mandarin type (October to November)
- Seedless
- Firm flesh
- Peelable, but not zipper-skinned
- Uniform fruit
- Appears productive
5. UF c4-15-19
- Early maturing (October to November) tangerine/mandarin type
- Seedless
- Clementine size
- Good external and internal color
- Easy peel; peelability seems to improve with storage
- Sweet flavor (15 to 19 brix)
- Appears to be productive
6. UF 914
- Grapefruit hybrid
- Grapefruit sized
- Blush on peel
- Low in furanocoumarins
- Seedless
- Good brix with lower acid
- Slightly thick peel
7. UF C2-5-12
- November maturing pummelo hybrid
- Red fleshed
- Sweet, non-bitter flavor
- A favorite at fruit shows
- Seeds tight to the center
8. UF 5-1-99-2 (Pummelette)
- Grapefruit-sized pummelo
- Non-bitter, sweet
- High ratio around Christmas
- Fewer seeds than most pummelo
- Appears to be more tolerant of canker
- Low in furanocoumarins
9. UF 5-1-99-5
- Medium- to large-sized pummelo
- Thin rind
- Late November to early December maturity
- Dark-red, uniform sections
- Great flavor with only slight bitterness
- High juice content
- Higher than normal furanocoumarin content