Mandarin Plant Named ‘mikanken14’

Common name: Mandarin.

Botanical classification: Citrus sp.

Variety denomination: ‘Mikanken14’.

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 ‘Mikanken14’.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The parent varieties are ‘Unknown mandarin variety’ (male parent) and ‘Mikanken4’ (female parent) (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 18/944,163), 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 name of the rootstock is ‘MIYAGAWAWASE’ (not patented).

In 2005, crossing the parent varieties and collecting seeds to be grown in the next year.

In 2006 and 2007, seeds were planted and grown.

In 2008, scions were grafted on top of root stock.

In 2010, the first fruit was harvested, and lines were primarily selected.

In 2012, lines were secondary selected.

In 2024, 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 ‘Mikanken14’.

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 ‘Mikanken14’ has medium orange as the surface predominant color of the fruit, medium orange as main color of the flesh, and very early to early maturity of the fruit for consumption, that distinguish it notably from its female parent ‘Mikanken4’ (dark orange surface as predominant color of the fruit, dark orange as main color of the flesh, late maturity of the fruit for consumption)

Also, ‘Mikanken14’ has very thin rind thickness of the fruit, absent or very sparse of filling of the core, very small diameter of the core, that distinguish it notably from its comparative variety ‘HAREHIME’ (not patented in the U.S., plant variety protection granted in Japan) (thin rind thickness of the fruit, sparse of filling of the core, medium diameter of the core).

In addition, the fruit of ‘Mikannken14’ has the following characteristics: the fruit size is from 150 g to 200 g, the strength of the segment walls is weak, the fruit has no seeds, in early December, the total soluble solids (Brix) of juice are about 15 degrees and the juice acidity is medium, and the time of maturity of the fruit is from late December to January.

Table 1 shows a comparison between the instant variety ‘Mikanken14’ and Female parent variety ‘Mikanken4’, as follows (average evaluation):

TABLE 1

Comparison between ‘Mikanken14’ and ‘Mikanken4’

Female

parent Present

variety variety

‘Mikanken4’ ‘Mikanken14’

Characteristics States States

Fruit: surface Dark orange Vivid orange

predominant color

Fruit: main color of flesh Dark orange Strong orange

Plant: time of maturity of Late Very early to

fruit for consumption early

Table 2 shows a comparison between the instant variety ‘Mikanken14’ and comparative variety ‘HAREHIME’

TABLE 2

Comparison between ‘Mikanken14’ and ‘HAREHIME’

Comparative Present

variety variety

‘HAREHIME’ ‘Mikanken14’

Characteristics States States

Fruit: rind thickness Thin Very thin

Fruit: filling of core Sparse Absent or very

sparse

Fruit: diameter of core Medium Very small

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 an illustrative 12-year old mandarin tree of the variety named ‘Mikanken14’ bearing fruits.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing flowers of ‘Mikanken14’.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph showing leaves of ‘Mikanken14’.

FIG. 4 is a color photograph showing fruits of ‘Mikanken14’.

FIG. 5 is a color photograph showing fruits of ‘Mikanken14’ and ‘Mikanken4’, which indicates the difference of fruit: surface predominant color and main color of the flesh.

FIG. 6 is a color photograph showing fruits of ‘Mikanken14’ and ‘HAREHIME’, which indicates the difference of the fruit: thickness of rind, filling of the core, diameter of the core.

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 ‘Mikanken14’ plants evaluated in 2023 (including the comparison with the reference plants ‘Mikanken4’ and ‘HAREHIME’). The values as provided are average. The ages of the trees evaluated was 13 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 (second edition, 1997 reprint).

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

TABLE 3

Botanical description of ‘Mikanken 14’

Characteristics States Values

Ploidy Diploid

Tree: growth habit Spreading

Tree: density of spines Absent or sparse

Tree: height 2.5 m

Tree: spread 3.0 m

Tree: trunk diameter (10 cm above 32.5 cm

the grafted area)

Tree: trunk texture Rough

Tree: crotch angle 71°

Branch: length 11.5 cm

Branch: diameter 3.8 cm

Branch: texture Smooth

Length of spines 4.7 cm

Leaf blade: length (apical leaflet in Long 11.4 cm

case of compound leaf)

Leaf blade: width (apical leaflet in Broad 5.1 cm

case of compound leaf)

Leaf blade: ratio length/width (apical Small 2.2

leaflet in case of compound leaf)

Leaf blade: shape in cross section Intermediate

(apical leaflet in case of compound

leaf)

Leaf blade: twisting Absent or weak

Leaf blade: blistering Absent or weak

Leaf blade: color Dark green 3509 (JHS

Color Chart)

Leaf blade: undulation of margin Intermediate

Leaf blade: incisions of margin Absent

Leaf blade: shape of apex Acute

Leaf blade: emargination at tip Absent

Petiole: length Medium 1.9 cm

Petiole: presence of wings Present

Varieties with petiole wings present Narrow 4.1 mm

only: petiole: width of wings

Flower: diameter of calyx 0.8 cm

Flower: length of petal Short 13.4 mm

Flower: width of petal Broad 6.2 mm

Flower: ratio length/width of petal 2.2

Flower: length of stamens 9.8 mm

Anther: color Pale reddish 2202 JHS

yellow Color Chart

Style: length 7.0 mm

Infructescence: clustering of fruits Absent

Fruit: length 5.6 cm

Fruit: diameter 7.1 cm

Fruit: ratio length/diameter 1.27

Fruit: position of broadest part At middle

Fruit: shape in transverse section Circular

Fruit: general shape of proximal Flattened

part (excluding neck, collar and

depression at stalk end)

Fruit: presence of neck Absent

Fruit: presence of depression at Absent

stalk end

Fruit: presence of constriction at Absent

stalk end

Fruit: number of radial grooves Absent or few 0

at stalk end

Fruit: presence of collar Absent

Fruit: abscission layer between Absent or weakly

floral disc and fruit developed

Fruit: general shape of distal part Flattened

(excluding nipple, bulging of navel

and depression at distal end)

Fruit: presence of depression at Present

distal end

Fruit: depth of depression at distal 1.3 mm

end

Fruit: diameter of depression at 9.0 mm

distal end

Fruit: presence of areola Incomplete

Fruit: type of areola Smooth

Fruit: diameter of areola 0.9 cm

Fruit: diameter of stylar scar 1.4 mm

Fruit: persistence of style None

Fruit: presence of navel opening Absent

Fruit: presence of radial grooves at Absent

distal end

Fruit: surface: predominant color(s) Vivid orange 1605 (JHS

Color Chart)

Fruit surface: glossiness Strong

Fruit surface: roughness Smooth

Fruit surface: size of oil glands All more or less

the same size

Fruit surface: size of larger oil Medium

glands

Fruit surface: conspicuousness of Strong

larger oil glands

Fruit surface: presence of pitting Pitting and

and pebbling on oil glands pebbling absent

Fruit rind: thickness Very thin 1.5 mm

Fruit rind: adherence of flesh Weak to medium

Fruit rind: strength Medium

Fruit rind: oiliness Dry

Fruit rind: conspicuousness of oil Absent or

glands on inner surface weakly

conspicuous

Fruit: color of albedo Yellowish white 2502 (JHS

Color Chart)

Fruit: density of albedo Medium

Fruit: amount of albedo adhering Medium

to flesh (strand excluded)

Fruit: presence of albedo strands Present

Fruit: amount of albedo strands Medium

Fruit: main color of flesh Strong orange 1606 (JHS

Color Chart)

Fruit: filling of core Absent of very

sparse

Fruit: diameter of core Very small 9.4 mm

Fruit: presence of rudimentary Absent or very

Segments weak

Fruit: number of well-developed 11

segments

Fruit: coherence of adjacent segment Medium

walls

Fruit: strength of segment wails Weak

Fruit: length of juice vesicles 4.8 mm

Fruit: thickness of juice vesicles 2.9 mm

Fruit conspicuousness of juice vesicle High

walls

Fruit; coherence of juice vesicles Medium

Fruit: presence of navel (viewed Absent or very

internally) rare

Fruit: juiciness High

Fruit juice: total soluble solids High 14.2 (Brix)

Fruit juice: acidity Medium 1.07

Fruit: strength of fiber Weak

Fruit: number of seeds (open Absent or very 0

pollinated) few

Seed: polyembryony Absent

Plant: time of maturity of fruit for Very early to December

consumption early

Plant: fruit: parthenocarpy Present

Fruit productivity 35 ton/ha

• 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.).