Mandarin Plant Named ‘mikanken4’

Common name: Mandarin.

Botanical classification: Citrus spp.

Variety denomination: ‘Mikanken4’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Mandarin, Citrus L., which has been given the variety denomination ‘Mikanken4’.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The parent varieties are ‘Kiyomi’ (female parent) (not patented in the U.S.) and MINEOLA' (male 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 rootstock variety was ‘MIYAGAWAWASE’ (not patented in the U.S.)

In 1989, the parent varieties were crossed.

In 1990, collected seeds were grown.

In 1992, saplings were grafted on top of rootstock ‘MIYAGAWAWASE’ (not patented in the U.S.)

In 1995, the first fruit was harvested, and lines were primary selected.

In 1997, plants were secondary selected, and the variety was named ‘Mikanken4’.

In 2024, breeding was completed with determination of distinct, uniform, and stable (DUS) status confirmed, and the variety was named ‘Mikanken 4’.

Cultivation of the variety does not require special conditions or treatments.

The variety is currently mainly intended for fruit production.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The new mandarin plant ‘Mikanken4’ has leaf blades with very small length/width ratio, fruit with dark orange surface color, and late maturity for consumption (typically May), which distinguish ‘Mikanken4’ from its female parent ‘Kiyomi’.

Further, the new mandarin plant ‘Mikanken4’ has fruit with an absence of neck, which distinguishes it notably from its male parent ‘MINEOLA’.

Also, the new mandarin plant ‘Mikanken4’ having leaf blades with very small length/width ratio, and late maturity for consumption (typically May), and its fruit having a proximal part with a flattened general shape, distinguish it notably from the comparative variety ‘Ehimekashi48’,

A comparison with the female parent ‘KIYOMI’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages):

TABLE 1

Female parent Present variety

No. Characteristics ‘KIYOMI’ ‘Mikanken4’

16 Leaf blade: ratio length/width Small (2.2) Very small (1.9)

83 Fruit surface: predominant Yellow orange Orange

color(s) RHS 17A RHS N25C

119 Time of maturity of fruit for Medium (March) Late (May)

consumption

A comparison with the male parent ‘MINEOLA’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages):

TABLE 2

Male parent Present variety

No. Characteristics ‘MINEOLA’ ‘Mikanken4’

66 Fruit: presence of neck Present Absent

A comparison with the reference variety ‘Ehimekashi48’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages):

TABLE 3

Reference variety Present variety

No. Characteristics ‘Ehimekashi48’ ‘Mikanken4’

16 Leaf blade: ratio length/width Small (2.2) Very small (1.9)

65 Fruit: general shape of Strongly rounded Flattened

proximal part

119 Time of maturity of fruit for Medium (March) Late (May)

consumption

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which are as nearly true as is reasonable possible to make in a color illustration of this type:

FIG. 1 is a color photograph showing a general view of the mandarin plant ‘Mikanken4’ bearing fruits;

FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing leaves of ‘Mikanken4’

FIG. 3 is a color photograph showing flowers of ‘Mikanken4’;

FIG. 4 is a color photograph showing fruits of ‘Mikanken4’;

FIG. 5 is a color photograph showing the leaves of ‘Mikanken4’ and its female parent ‘KIYOMI’, illustrating the difference in the predominant color of fruit surface;

FIG. 6 is a color photograph showing fruits of ‘Mikanken4’ and the comparative variety ‘Ehimekashi48’, illustrating the difference in the general shape of the proximal part.

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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The botanical description and the photographs are of the ‘Mikanken4’ plants evaluated in 2024 (including for the comparison with the reference plants ‘KIYOMI’ and ‘Ehimekashi48’). Values as provided are averages.

The plants shown on the photographs were grown at Uwajima, Ehime, Japan. The plant is a 15-year grown after top grafting. The tree was photographed on Mar. 25, 2024, the flowers were photographed on Apr. 25, 2024, the mature leaves were photographed on Mar. 25, 2024, and the fruit were photographed on Mar. 29, 2024.

Colors are given according to the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Colour Chart (Fourth Ed., 2001).

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

TABLE 4

No. Characteristics States Values

1. Ploidy Diploid

2. Tree: growth habit Spreading

3. Tree: density of spines Intermediate

4. Tree: length of spines Short 2.2 cm

5. Tree height 2.7 m

6. Tree spread 3.2 m

7. Trunk diameter 27.7 cm

8. Trunk texture Rough

9. Trunk color Green brown RHS 152B

10. Crotch angle 47.5°

11. Branch length Short 9.8 cm

12. Branch texture Smooth

13. Branch color Brown green RHS 146A

14. Leaf blade: length (apical leaflet in case Medium 8.0 cm

of compound leaf)

15. Leaf blade: width (as for 5) Medium 4.3 cm

16. Leaf blade: ratio length/width (as for 5) Very small 1.9

17. Leaf blade: shape in cross section Intermediate

(as for 5)

18. Leaf blade: twisting Absent or

weak

19. Leaf blade: blistering Absent or

weak

20. Leaf blade: green color Medium

21. Leaf blade: undulation of margin Intermediate

22. Leaf blade: incisions of margin Absent

23. Leaf blade: shape of apex Acute

24. Leaf blade: emargination at tip Present

25. Leaf blade size Medium 22.4 cm 2

(length 8.0

cm, width

4.3 cm)

26. Leaf arrangement Alternate

27. Leaf type Simple leaf

28. Leaf shape Fusiform

29. Leaf color: upper surface Dark green RHS 141A

30. Leaf color: lower surface Brown green RHS 137D

31. Petiole: length Medium 1.8 cm

32. Petiole: presence of wings Present

33. Petiole diameter Medium 1.8 mm

34. Petiole color Dark green RHS 141A

35. Petiole wings Present

36. Petiole attachment (Not

examined)

37. Petiole texture Smooth

38. Varieties with petiole wings present Narrow 3.3 mm

only:

Petiole: width of wings

39. Flower: type Single

40. Flower: diameter of calyx — 0.9 cm

41. Flower: number of petals 5

42. Flower: sepal size length 0.55

cm, width

0.93 cm

43. Flower: sepal shape Synsepalous

calyx

44. Flower: sepal color Light green RHS 144D

45. Flower: length of petal Short 13.7 mm

46. Flower: width of petal Medium 6.0 mm

47. Flower: ratio length/ width of petal — 2.3

48. Petal color: upper surface White RHS 155A

49. Petal color: lower surface White RHS 155A

50. Petal texture Smooth

51. Flower: length of stamens — 9.2 mm

52. Flower: blooming period Medium May 1-10

53. Flower: fragrance Present

54. Flower: fertility Present

55. Pollen abundance Absent

56. Pollen color (Not

examined)

57. Anther: color Light yellow RHS 8D

58. Style: length — 6.7 mm

59. Infructescence: clustering of fruits Present

60. Fruit: length — 7.4 cm

61. Fruit: diameter — 8.6 cm

62. Fruit: ratio length/diameter Medium 1.16

63. Fruit: position of broadest part At middle

64. Fruit: shape in transverse section Circular

65. Fruit: general shape of proximal part Flattened

(excluding neck, collar and depression

at stalk end)

66. Fruit: presence of neck Absent

67. Fruit: presence of depression at stalk Present

end

68. Fruit: depth of depression at stalk end — 2.0 mm

69. Fruit: presence of constriction at stalk Absent

end

70. Fruit: number of radial grooves at Intermediate

stalk end

71. Fruit: length of radial grooves at stalk Short to 10.1

end medium

72. Fruit: presence of collar Absent

73. Fruit: abscission layer between floral Absent or

disc and fruit weakly

developed

74. Fruit: general shape of distal part Flattened

(excluding nipple, bulging of navel

and depression at distal end)

75. Fruit: presence of depression at distal Present

end

76. Fruit: depth of depression at distal end — 2.6 mm

77. Fruit: diameter of depression at distal — 14.5 mm

end

78. Fruit: presence of areola Absent

79. Fruit: diameter of stylar scar — 2.1 mm

80. Fruit: persistence of style None

81. Fruit: presence of navel opening Absent

82. Fruit: presence of radial grooves at Absent

distal end

83. Fruit surface: predominant color(s) Orange RHS N25C

84. Fruit surface: glossiness Medium

85. Fruit surface: roughness Smooth

86. Fruit surface: size of oil glands All more or

less the same

size

87. Fruit surface: size of larger oil glands Small

88. Fruit surface: conspicuousness of larger Strong

oil glands

89. Fruit surface: presence of pitting and Pitting and

pebbling on oil glands pebbling

absent

90. Fruit rind: thickness Medium 3.5 mm

91. Fruit weight Heavy 286 g

92. Fruit rind: adherence to flesh Weak

93. Fruit rind: strength Weak

94. Fruit rind: oiliness Dry

95. Fruit rind: conspicuousness of oil Absent or

glands on inner surface weakly

conspicuous

96. Fruit: color of albedo Light yellow RHS 8C

97. Fruit: density of albedo Medium

98. Fruit: amount of albedo adhering to Small

flesh (strands excluded)

99. Fruit: presence of albedo strands Absent

100. Fruit: main color of flesh Dark orange RHS N25C

101. Fruit: filling of core Absent or

very sparse

102. Fruit: diameter of core Very small 10.9 mm

103. Fruit: presence of rudimentary Absent or

segments very weak

104. Fruit: number of well-developed — 12

segments

105. Fruit: coherence of adjacent segment Strong

walls

106. Fruit: strength of segment walls Weak

107. Fruit: length of juice vesicle — 6.2 mm

108. Fruit: thickness of juice vesicles — 2.6 mm

109. Fruit; conspicuousness of juice High

vesicle walls

110. Fruit: coherence of juice vesicles Medium

111. Fruit: presence of navel (viewed Absent or

internally) very rare

112. Fruit: juiciness High

113. Fruit juice: total soluble solids High 12.8 (Brix)

114. Fruit juice: acidity High 1.95

mg/100 ml

115. Fruit: strength of fiber Weak

116. Fruit: number of seeds (controlled Absent or 0

manual self-pollination) very few

117. Fruit: number of seeds (open Absent or 0

pollination) very few

118. Seed: polyembryony Absent

119. Time of maturity of fruit for Late May

consumption

120. Productivity (pounds or bushels per (Not

acre) examined)

121. Fruit: parthenocarpy Present

Other features of the plant are as follows:

• Disease and Pest resistance: Normal resistance was observed for pests and diseases in Uwajima, Ehime, Japan. • Tree hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zone Pa-9b. • Fruit ship ability: medium, slightly inferior compared to the variety ‘IYOKAN’ which has excellent storage ability. • Fruit storage ability: medium.