Mandarin tree named `Winola`

#This invention is directed to a novel variety of mandarin tree of the genus Citrus L. which resulted from a controlled pollination between a seed bearing parent Wilking mandarin and a pollen parent Minneola tangelo, made at the Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel.

#The objective in breeding the present novel variety, assigned the denomination WINOLA, was to obtain a late ripening seedless mandarin citrus. In the spring of 1979 a controlled pollination cross between Wilking mandarin (resulting from a cross of King.times.Willowleaf (Mediterranean) made in 1915 and reported by H. B. frost in Calif. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull, 1935, 597-601.) as a seed bearing parent and Minneola tangelo (resulting from a cross between Duncan grapefruit and Dancy mandarin produced in Florida by the USDA and named and released in 1931) as a pollen parent was made at the Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. The fruits were collected in November 1979. Seeds of these fruits were extracted and subsequently germinated during January 1980. About 16 seedlings were top grafted on a mature Valencia orange scion grafted on a Troyer rootstock growing in an experimental grove in the Acre Experimental Station, Acre, Israel.

#The first fruits were observed in March 1984 and a second observation was made in February-March 1985. One of the 16 scions was selected and numbered 1-5-1. The fruits of this selection were orange red colored, seedless and they were fully ripe in March.

#Distinctive characteristics of the new variety are exemplified in the accompanying illustrations in which:

#FIG. 1 shows whole fruit of the new variety illustrating the exterior of the fruit, as well as traverse mid-sections of the fruit in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the fruit, illustrating the seedless interior of the fruit; and

#FIG. 2 shows the tree and the leaf canopy of the new variety.

#The following is a detailed description of the new mandarin citrus variety based on observations made under conventional grove conditions.

#Tree: The tree is small to medium sized, up to 4 meters in height and moderately vigorous. The lower inner parts of the tree and juvenile parts of water shoots are thorny (large thorns), while flowering branches have small thorns. Spines are located near the leaf base. The larger spines, especially on the main juvenile part of the tree, can be up to 6 cm long and 4 mm in diameter at the basal end. Thorns on flowering and fruit bearing branches are 2-4 cm long with a tendency to nearly thornlessness. Main branches and juvenile branches when young have a drooping attitude and fruit is found predominantly inside the leaf canopy. Young shoots have no anthrocyanin coloration even at the tip. Bark of new wood is green, while bark of old wood takes on a brown-gray color. Pruning is required, especially at the non-fruiting stage, due to the drooping growth attitude of the tree.

#Leaf: Leaves are small to medium size, very firm, without undulation, have a concave cross section, and are pointed at the base and at the apex. Petioles are without wings or have rudimentary wings.