Citrus L. Plant Named ‘HAYASE’

Common name: Mandarin.

Botanical classification: Citrus sp.

Variety denomination: ‘HAYASE’.

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 ‘HAYASE’.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The parent varieties are ‘TSUNONOZOMI’ (female parent) (not patented in the U.S.), and ‘SETOKA’ (male parent) (not patented in the U.S.) respectively.

The variety was developed and propagated in Minami-Shimabara, Nagasaki, Japan.

The variety was reproduced asexually by vegetative reproduction by top grafting one-year-old scions on rootstocks, also in Minami-Shimabara, Nagasaki, Japan. The rootstock used was satsuma mandarin (not patented) as an interstock grafted onto Poncirus trifoliata (trifoliate orange).

In 2001, the parent varieties were crossed. Seeds were collected to be grown in the next year.

In 2002, seeds were grown and seedlings were grafted on top of ‘Shiikuwasha’ rootstock.

In 2005, first fruiting was observed.

In 2008, preliminary individual selection and characteristics evaluation were performed. Selected plants were grafted on top of satsuma mandarin interstock.

In 2017, the plant was named ‘Kankitsu kuchinotsu 53’ as a provisional name for a promising breeding line. Growing tests for local adaptability were started under confidentiality conditions.

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.

In 2024, the variety was named ‘HAYASE’ and PVP application No. 37,416 was filed on May 8, 2024 in the Plant Variety Protection Office in Japan, whose content is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Cultivation of the 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 ‘HAYASE’ has tree habit in-between upright and spreading, spindle-shaped leaf blade with acuminate apex and acute base, vestigial wing, fruit with high diameter/height ratio (average 1.34) and medium weight (average 149.9 g), no neck, a flat distal part, bright orange (JHS 1305) skin color, thin peel thickness, easy to medium peeling, deep orange (JHS 1307) color when fresh, juicy when fresh, high sweetness, very few seeds, early maturity, and low acidity.

Specifically, Table 1 below shows a comparison between the instant variety ‘HAYASE’ and the female parent ‘TSUNONOZOMI’ as follows (evaluation based on averages):

TABLE 1

Comparison between ‘HAYASE’ and

‘TSUNONOZOMI’

Female parent Present

‘TSUNON- variety

OZOMI’ ‘HAYASE’

No. Characteristics Descriptions Descriptions

9 One year old medium (16%) few (5%)

shoot: spine

(number of

spines per

leaf nodes) (%)

46 Style shape curved straight

51 Fruit: shape of sinking flattened

distal part

85 Seeds few to medium very few

(6.2 seeds/fruit) (0.8 seeds/

fruit)

87 Polyembryony absent present

Table 2 below shows a comparison between the instant variety ‘HAYASE’ and the male parent ‘SETOKA’, which is also a comparative variety.

TABLE 2

Comparison between ‘HAYASE’ and ‘SETOKA’

Reference Present

variety variety

‘SETOKA’ ‘HAYASE’

No. Characteristics Descriptions Descriptions

9 One-year old shoot: many (62%) few (5%)

spine (number of

spines per

leaf nodes) (%)

44 Pollens few none

46 Style shape curved straight

62 Fruit weight heavy medium

(209.1 g) (149.9 g)

84 Acidity medium low

to high (0.90 g/

(1.34 g/ 100 ml)

100 ml)

The fruit of ‘HAYASE’ having few spines on a one year old shoot, no pollen, a straight-style shape, medium to heavy weight, and low acidity, distinguishes it notably from comparative variety ‘SETOKA’ (not patented in US) having many spines on one year old shoot, few pollens, a curved-style shape, heavy weight, and medium to high acidity.

Table 3 below shows a comparison between the instant variety ‘HAYASE’ and the comparative variety ‘ASUMI’ (not patented in U.S.).

TABLE 3

Comparison between ‘HAYASE’ and ‘ASUMI’

Reference Present

variety variety

‘ASUMI’ ‘HAYASE’

No. Characteristics Descriptions Descriptions

9 One-year old shoot: intermediate few (5%)

spine (number of (29%)

spines per

leaf nodes) (%)

44 Pollens medium none

46 Style shape curved straight

84 Acidity medium low

(1.23 g/ (0.90 g/

100 ml) 100 ml)

87 Polyembryony absent present

Table 4 below shows a comparison between the instant variety ‘HAYASE’ and the comparative variety ‘ASUKI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,146 P3).

TABLE 4

Comparison between ‘HAYASE’ and ‘ASUKI’

Reference Present

variety variety

‘ASUKI’ ‘HAYASE’

No. Characteristics Descriptions Descriptions

44 Pollens few none

46 Style shape curved straight

84 Acidity medium low

to high (0.90 g/

(1.30 g/ 100 ml)

100 ml)

87 Polyembryony absent present

91 Time of maturity of late early

fruit for consumption (March) (January)

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 mandarin tree of the variety named ‘HAYASE’ bearing fruits.

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

FIG. 3 is a color photograph showing flower organs of ‘HAYASE’.

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

FIG. 5 is a color photograph showing sections of fruit of ‘HAYASE’.

FIG. 6 is a color photograph showing flowers of ‘HAYASE’, together with flowers of ‘SETOKA’ (male parent and comparative variety) and ‘TSUNONOZOMI’ (female parent).

FIG. 7 is a color photograph showing the horizontal section, the transverse section, upper view and lower view of a fruit of ‘HAYASE’ together with a fruit of female parent ‘TSUNONOZOMI’, and male parent ‘SETOKA’, illustrating the difference between the fruit apex shape, in that the fruit of ‘HAYASE’ has a flat apex, whereas the fruit of ‘TSUNONOZOMI’ has a sinking apex.

FIG. 8 is a color photograph showing a fruiting state on the tree of ‘HAYASE’.

FIG. 9 is another color photograph showing a fruiting state on the tree of ‘HAYASE’.

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 below shows the botanical description of the ‘HAYASE’ plants evaluated in 2022 and 2023 (including the comparison with the reference plant ‘SETOKA’). The values provided are averages. The ages of the trees evaluated was 7 years, and the location of the trees evaluated was Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, Japan.

The ‘HAYASE’ plants shown on the photographs were grown at Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, Japan. The plants were 7-year grown trees after top grafting. The tree was photographed on Nov. 24, 2023, the flowers were photographed on Apr. 30, 2023, and the fruits were photographed on Jan. 5, 2023.

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

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

TABLE 5

Botanical description of ‘HAYASE’

No. Characteristics Descriptions Values

1. Tree habit in-between

upright

and spreading

2. Shoot density dense

3. Tree size: average height 2.3 m

4. Tree size: average spread 2.4 m

5. Tree vigor medium

6. One year old shoot: diameter medium 2.7 mm

7. One year old shoot: length medium 11.9 cm

8. One year old shoot: internode medium 1.7 cm

9. One year old shoot: spine (number few 5%

of spines per leaf nodes) (%)

10. Spine: average size very short 1.9 mm

11. Spine: average color dull greenish JHS 2910

yellow

12. Leaf blade: shape spindle

shaped

13. Leaf blade: apex shape acuminate

14. Leaf blade: base shape acute

15 Leaf blade: wave weak

16. Leaf blade: size medium 21.1 cm2

17. Leaf blade: length medium 8.2 cm

18 Leaf blade: width narrow 3.5 cm

19. Leaf shape (length/width ratio) medium 2.4

20. Leaf thickness medium 0.34 mm

21. Leaf vein: clarity of upper surface slightly clear

22. Leaf vein: color of upper surface soft yellow JHS 3310

green

23. Leaf color: upper surface dark green JHS 4007

24. Leaf color: lower surface soft green JHS 3709

25. Wing shape vestigial

26. Wing length medium 13.9 mm

27. Wing width narrow 3.2 mm

28. Petiole length medium 17.7 mm

29. Petiole diameter (base) medium 1.5 mm

30. Petiole color soft yellow JHS 3511

green

31. Peduncle color soft yellow JHS 3511

green

32 Inflorescence single

33. Flower weight (beginning of light 0.23 g

flowering)

34. Petal shape (full flowering) lanceolate

35. Petal length (full flowering) short 10.9 mm

36. Petal width (full flowering) narrow 4.9 mm

37. Petal color (full flowering, outside) yellowish JHS 2902

white

38. Petal number 5

39. Pistil average length short 7.9 mm

40. Stamen average length short 6.3 mm

41. Stamen: average color of anther yellowish JHS 2701

white

42. Filament number few 17.3

43. Filament separation separating

44. Pollens none

45. Ovary shape compressed

46. Style shape straight

47. Fruit: average diameter medium 70.1 mm

48. Fruit: average height medium 52.5 mm

49. Fruit: shape of proximal part flattened

50. Fruit: diameter/height ratio high 1.34

51. Fruit: shape of distal part flattened

52. Fruit: broadest part at middle

53. Fruit: radial groove at distal part absent

54. Fruit: apex concave ring (circular absent

depression or disk-shaped

protuberance around the style scar)

55. Fruit: radial groove at proximal part very few 0.6

56 Fruit: stalk end depression absent

57. Fruit: collar absent

58. Fruit: shape in transverse section circular

59. Fruit: areola absent

60. Core density sparse

61. Core size (core diameter/fruit small 19.1

diameter)

62. Fruit weight medium 149.9 g

63. Skin color bright orange JHS 1305

64. Albedo color pale reddish JHS 2202

orange

65. Oil gland size mixed,

including

small,

medium,

and large

66. Oil gland number medium 66.8 cm2

67. Oil gland surface convex

68. Fruit surface smooth to

medium

69. Fruit surface glossiness medium

70. Amount of albedo adhering to fruit small

flesh (not including fruit strands)

71. Fruit navel (when viewed internally) absent

72. Fruit average number of segments many 13

73. Fruit average number of absent or

rudimentary segments few

74. Peel thickness thin 2.0 mm

75. Pericarp percentage small 16.1%

76. Peeling easy to

medium

77. Septum firmness soft

78. Juice sacs shape medium

79. Juice sacs size medium

80. Flesh color deep orange JHS 1307

81. Juiciness of flesh juicy

82. Sweetness high 13.6 (Brix)

83. Bitterness not bitter

84. Acidity low 0.90 g/

100 ml

85. Seeds/fruit (since there are very very few 0.8 on

few, the seed characteristics

were not measured) average

86. Embryo color (multigerm only) pale yellow JHS 3102

green

87. Polyembryony present

88. Sprouting time medium early April

89. Flowering time medium early May

90. Flowering habit flowering

once

91. Time of maturity early January

92. Fruit shipping quality moderate

93. Fruit storage life moderate 1-2 months

94. Fruit market use as fresh fruit

95. Fruit market productivity 40 kg/plant

OTHER FEATURES OF THE PLANT ARE AS FOLLOWS

Disease and pest resistance: normal resistance was observed for pests and diseases in Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka Japan, in particular the following pests: thrips, fruit-piercing stink bugs, scales; and the following diseases: Citrus canker, melanose, botrytis fruit injury.

Tree hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zone: 9a-9b.