ARS | Publication request: Us Seedless Pineapple Orange

Submitted to: Germplasm Release
Publication Type: Germplasm Release
Publication Acceptance Date: July 20, 2009
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: The Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, hereby releases for propagation the US SEEDLESS PINEAPPLE citrus scion selection, formerly tested as USDA 1-10-60. US SEEDLESS PINEAPPLE resulted from irradiation of Ridge Pineapple seeds by C.J. Hearn in 1970 at the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Orlando, FL. Following irradiation, seedlings were grown and planted into the field in 1972 at the A.H. Whitmore Citrus Research Foundation farm in Lake Co., Florida. Trees from the irradiated seeds began to produce fruit in 1977-1978, but it was not until 1979-1980 that sufficient fruit were produced to obtain reliable seed count data. Several selections were identified as low seeded and these were propagated and planted into the field at the Whitmore farm in 1983 and at a commercial grove in Osceola County, Florida. Horticultural performance of US SEEDLESS PINEAPPLE trees has been evaluated at these two sites and results indicate that US SEEDLESS PINEAPPLE is well adapted to central Florida conditions. US SEEDLESS PINEAPPLE has not been evaluated outside of Florida. With the exception of low seed count (average 0.2 seeds per fruit with a range of 0 to 0.2), US SEEDLESS PINEAPPLE fruit are essentially identical to standard Pineapple orange fruit. Fruit size of US SEEDLESS PINEAPPLE averages between 7.1 and 7.4 cm in diameter. Fruit shape and peel characteristics of the US SEEDLESS PINEAPPLE are rated as good and stem end peel disruption (plugging) is not a problem. Fruit yields of US SEEDLESS PINEAPPLE are comparable with yields reported for ‘Pineapple’ oranges on various rootstocks. US SEEDLESS PINEAPPLE is less prone to fruit drop than the wild type ‘Pineapple’ orange meaning that harvestable yield may be greater than for standard ‘Pineapple’ orange. Total soluble solids for fruit of US SEEDLESS PINEAPPLE (10.3 to 11.1%) are comparable to ‘Pineapple’ oranges harvested in January or February from trees grown in central Florida. Juice color scores for US SEEDLESS PINEAPPLE based on one year of data from Lake Co. and two years of data from Osceola Co. exceeded CN 36 which would be classified as good. Seedlessness should make US SEEDLESS PINEAPPLE attractive as a fresh market fruit than is standard ‘Pineapple’. In addition, because US SEEDLESS PINEAPPLE appears to be less prone to preharvest fruit drop than the standard ‘Pineapple’, this provides an advantage to producers. Data on yield, quality, and processing attributes of US SEEDLESS PINEAPPLE fruit are available upon request. Small quantities of US SEEDLESS PINEAPPLE are available from Dr. Greg McCollum, U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, 2001 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34945. Propagules of US SEEDLESS PINEAPPLE have been deposited with the Florida Department of Plant Industry Bureau of Budwood Protection and the National Plant Germplasm system where they will be available for research purposes.