Patents.us
Patents/USPP037034

Mandarin Plant Named ‘mikanken10’

USPP037034No. PP 37,034plantGranted 10/21/2025
Patent USPP037034 — Mandarin plant named ‘Mikanken10’ — Figure 1
Fig. 1 · Mandarin Plant Named ‘mikanken10’

Abstract

A new variety of Citrus sp. plant named ‘Mikanken10’ that has dense spines on the tree, leaf blade with emargination at tip, fruit with flattened general shape of distal part, and no navel opening.

Claims (1)

Claim 1 (Independent)

1. A new and distinct variety of Citrus sp. plant named ‘Mikanken10’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.

Full Description

Show full text →

Common name: Mandarin.

Botanical classification: Citrus sp.

Variety denomination: ‘Mikanken10’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Mandarin, Citrus sp., which has been given the variety denomination ‘Mikanken10’.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The parent varieties are ‘ARIAKE’ (male parent) (patented in the US as U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,235) and ‘NANKO’ (female 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 used was ‘MIYAGAWAWASE’ (not patented) as an interstock grafted onto Poncirus trifoliata (trifoliate orange).

In 1993, crossing the parent varieties and collecting seeds to be grown in the next year.

In 1994 and 1995, seeds were planted and grown.

In 1996, scions were grafted on top of root stock.

In 1998, the first fruit was harvested.

In 2003, lines were primarily selected.

In 2009, plants were secondary selected.

From 2010 to 2022 there were growing tests for their performance.

In 2023, breeding was completed with DUS status confirmed (distinct, uniform, and stable), whereby it was confirmed that the instant tree reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction, and the variety was named ‘Mikanken10’.

Cultivation of variety does not require special conditions or treatments.

The variety is currently mainly intended for fruit production.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

This new mandarin plant ‘Mikanken10’ has dense spines on the tree, leaf blade with emargination at tip, fruit with flattened general shape of distal part, that distinguish it notably from its male parent ‘ARIAKE’, and no navel opening, that distinguish it notably from its female parent ‘NANKO’.

Also, ‘Mikanken10’ has no depression at the distal end of the fruit and no polyembryony of seeds, that distinguishes it notably from comparative variety ‘SEINANNOHIKARI’ (not patented in the U.S.).

In addition, the fruit of ‘Mikanken10’ has the following characteristics: The fruit size is approximately 200 g, the predominant color of the fruit surface is vivid orange, the rind thickness is thin, the strength of the segment walls is weak, the fruit has no seeds, in early December, the total soluble solids (Brix) of juice is about 15 degrees and the juice acidity is medium, and the time of maturity of the fruit is in early to mid-December.

Table 1 shows a comparison between the instant variety ‘Mikanken10’ and Male parent variety ‘ARIAKE’ and Female parent variety ‘NANKO’, as follows (average evaluation):

TABLE 1

Comparison between ‘Mikanken10’ and ‘ARIAKE’ and ‘NANKO’

Female

Male parent parent Present

variety variety variety

‘ARIAKE’ ‘NANKO’ ‘Mikanken10’

No. Characteristics States States States

3 Tree: density Absent or Intermediate Dense

of spine Sparse

15 Leaf blade: Absent Absent Present

emargination

at tip

41 Fruit: general Slightly Slightly Flattened

shape of distal rounded rounded

part

48 Fruit: presence Absent Always Absent

of navel present

opening

Table 2 shows a comparison between the instant variety ‘Mikanken10’ and comparative variety ‘SEINANNNOHIKARI’, as follows (average evaluation):

TABLE 2

Comparison between ‘Mikanken10’ and ‘SEINANNOHIKARI’

Comparative Present

variety variety

‘SEINANNOHIKARI’ ‘Mikanken10’

No. Characteristics States States

15 Leaf blade: Absent Present

emargination at

tip

42 Fruit: presence Present Absent

of depression at

distal end

91 Seed: poly- Present Absent

embryony

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:

is a color photograph showing a general view of an illustrative mandarin tree of the variety named ‘Mikanken10’ bearing fruits.

is a color photograph showing flowers of ‘Mikanken10’.

is a color photograph showing upper surfaces of leaves of ‘Mikanken10’.

is a color photograph showing whole fruits (distal end, side view and stalk end), and transverse section and longitudinal section of fruits of ‘Mikanken10’.

is a color photograph showing whole fruits (distal end, side view and stalk end), and transverse section and longitudinal section of fruits of ‘Mikanken10’ and ‘NANKO’, which is indicating difference of fruit: navel opening.

is a color photograph showing whole fruits (distal end, side view and stalk end), and transverse section and longitudinal section of fruits of ‘Mikanken10’ and ‘ARIAKE’, which is indicating difference of general shape of distal part.

is a color photograph showing upper surfaces of leaves of ‘Mikanken10’ and ‘SEINANNOHIKARI’, which is indicating difference of leaf: emargination at tip.

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

Table 3 shows the botanical description of the ‘Mikanken10’ plants evaluated in 2023. The values as provided are averages. The ages of the trees evaluated was 15 years after grafted on top of rootstock, and the location of the trees evaluated was in Uwajima, Ehime, Japan.

Colors are given according to the J.H.S. (Japan Horticultural Society) Color Chart.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

TABLE 3

Botanical description of ‘Mikanken10’

No. Characteristics States Values

1. Ploidy Diploid

2. Tree: growth habit Spreading

3. Tree: average height 2.1 m

4. Tree: average spread 3.0 m

5. Trunk: average dia- 6.8 cm

meter at 10 cm above

the grafted area

6. Trunk: surface texture rough

7. Trunk: bark color Dark 3107 (JHS

yellow- Color Chart)

green

8. Branches: average 11.3 cm

length

9. Branches: surface smooth

texture

10. Branches: bark color Dark 3508 (JHS

yellow- Color Chart)

green

11. Tree: density of Dense 33.3%

spines (number of

thorns per total

number of leaf-

bearing nodes,

multiplied by 100)

12. Length of spines 0.4 cm

13. Spine: color Dark 3508 (JHS

yellow- Color Chart)

green

14. Leaf blade: length Long 10.1 cm

(apical leaflet in

case of compound

leaf)

15. Leaf blade: width Medium 4.2 cm

(apical leaflet in

case of compound

leaf)

16. Leaf blade: ratio Medium 2.4

length/width (apical

leaflet in case of

compound leaf)

17. Leaf blade: shape Inter-

in cross section mediate

(apical leaflet in

case of compound

leaf)

18. Leaf blade: twisting Absent or

Weak

19. Leaf blade: blistering Absent or

Weak

20. Leaf blade: color: Dark 3509 (JHS

upper surface yellow- Color Chart)

green

21. Leaf blade: un- Absent or

dulation of margin Weak

22. Leaf blade: incisions Absent

of margin

23. Leaf blade: shape of Acute

apex

24. Leaf blade: emargin- Present

ation at tip

25. Petiole: length Medium 1.6 cm

26. Petiole: color Deep 3507 (JHS

yellow- Color Chart)

green

27. Petiole: presence of Present

wings

28. Varieties with petiole Narrow 2.9 mm

wings present only:

petiole: width of wings

29. Petiole wings: color Dark 3509 (JHS

yellow- Color Chart)

green

30. Flower: diameter of 0.8 cm

Calyx

31. Flower: length of petal Medium 15.8 mm

32. Flower: width of petal Very Broad 7.0 mm

33. Flower: ratio length/ 2.3

width of petal

34. Flower: length of 9.0 mm

stamens

35. Blooming period Early May

36. Fragrance Present

37. Flower bud: color Yellowish 2502 (JHS

white Color Chart)

38. Sepals: number per 5

flower

39. Sepals: length 0.25 cm

40. Sepals: width 0.78 cm

41 Petal: shape Spindle-

shaped

42. Petal: color (upper Yellowish 2502 (JHS

surface) white Color Chart)

43. Petal: apex shape Acute

44. Petal: base shape Round

45. Anther: color Bright 2204 (JHS

reddish Color Chart)

yellow

46. Style: length 5.0 mm

47. infructescence: Present

clustering of fruits

48. Fruit: length 6.2 cm

49. Fruit: diameter 7.4 cm

50. Fruit: ratio length/ 1.19

diameter

51. Fruit: position of At Middle

broadest part

52. Fruit: shape in trans- Circular

verse section

53. Fruit: general shape of Flattened

proximal part (excluding

neck, collar and

depression at stalk end)

54. Fruit: presence of neck Absent

55. Fruit: presence of Absent

depression at stalk end

56. Fruit: presence of con- Absent

striction at stalk end

57. Fruit: number of radial Absent or 2

grooves at stalk end few

58. Fruit: length of radial 7.2 mm

grooves at stalk end

59. Fruit: presence of collar Absent

60. Fruit: abscission layer Absent

between floral disc weekly

and fruit developed

61. Fruit: general shape of Flattened

distal part (excluding

nipple, bulging of navel

and depression at distal

end)

62. Fruit: presence of Absent

depression at distal end

63. Fruit: presence of areola Incomplete

64. Fruit: type of areola Smooth

65. Fruit: diameter of areola 3.0 cm

66. Fruit: diameter of stylar 3.0 mm

scar

67. Fruit: persistence of None

style

68. Fruit: presence of navel Absent

opening

69. Fruit: presence of radial Absent

grooves at distal end

70. Fruit surface: pre- Vivid 1605 (JHS

dominant color(s) orange Color Chart)

71. Fruit surface: glossiness Medium

72. Fruit surface: roughness Medium

73. Fruit surface: size of oil All more or

glands less the

same size

74. Fruit surface: size of Medium

larger oil glands

75. Fruit surface: con- Medium

spicuousness of larger

oil glands

76. Fruit surface: presence Pitting

of pitting and pebbling absent,

on oil glands Pebbling

present

77. Fruit: varieties with fruit Medium

surface: pebbling on oil

glands only: surface:

density of pebbling

78. Fruit: varieties with Medium

fruit surface: pebbling

on oil glands only:

surface: degree of

pebbling

79. Fruit: rind thickness Thin 2.5 mm

80. Fruit: rind adherence of Weak to

flesh medium

81. Fruit: rind: strength Medium

82. Fruit: rind: oiliness Dry

83. Fruit: rind conspicuous- Absent or

ness of oil glands on weakly

inner surface conspicuous

84. Fruit: color of albedo Pale yellow 2503 (JHS

Color Chart)

85. Fruit: density of albedo Medium

86. Fruit: amount of albedo Small

adhering to flesh

(strand excluded)

87. Fruit: presence of Present

albedo strands

88. Fruit: amount of Medium

albedo strands

89. Fruit: main color Strong 1606 (JHS

of flesh orange Color Chart)

90. Fruit: filling of core Medium

91. Fruit: diameter of core Very small 8.2 mm

92. Fruit: presence of Absent or

rudimentary segments very weak

93. Fruit: number of well- 13

developed segments

94. Fruit: coherence of Medium

adjacent segment walls

95. Fruit: strength of Weak

segment walls

96. Fruit: length of juice 6.5 mm

vesicles

97. Fruit: thickness of 2.6 mm

juice vesicles

98. Fruit; conspicuous- High

ness of juice vesicle

walls

99. Fruit; coherence of Medium

juice vesicles

100. Fruit: presence of Absent or

navel (viewed very rare

internally)

101. Fruit: juiciness High

102. Fruit: juice: total High 14.9 (Brix)

soluble solids

103. Fruit: juice: acidity Medium 1.00

104. Fruit: strength of fiber Weak

105. Fruit: number of Absent or 0.7

seeds (open pollinated) very few

106. Seed: polyembryony Absent

107. Seed: length 9.6 mm

108. Seed: width 7.2 mm

109. Seed: surface Wrinkled

110. Seed: varieties with Medium

seed surface: wrinkled

only: seed: prominence

of wrinkled

111. Seed: external color Whitish

112. Seed: color of inner Light brown

seed coat

113. Plant: time of Very early December

maturity of fruit for to early

consumption

114. Plant: fruit: Present

parthenocarpy

115. Plant: fruit harvest November

period

Other features of the plant are as follows:

• Disease and pest resistance: Not observed to date. • Tree hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zone 9a-9b (until −3° C.). • Shipping quality, storage life, and productivity (weight/plant): Under investigation to date. Market use is as a Citrus fruit for eating raw.

Figures (4)

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4