Common name: Mandarin.
Botanical classification: Citrus spp.
Variety denomination: ‘Mikanken4’.
BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Mandarin, Citrus L., which has been given the variety denomination ‘Mikanken4’.
ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY
The parent varieties are ‘Kiyomi’ (female parent) (not patented in the U.S.) and MINEOLA' (male 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 variety was ‘MIYAGAWAWASE’ (not patented in the U.S.)
In 1989, the parent varieties were crossed.
In 1990, collected seeds were grown.
In 1992, saplings were grafted on top of rootstock ‘MIYAGAWAWASE’ (not patented in the U.S.)
In 1995, the first fruit was harvested, and lines were primary selected.
In 1997, plants were secondary selected, and the variety was named ‘Mikanken4’.
In 2024, breeding was completed with determination of distinct, uniform, and stable (DUS) status confirmed, and the variety was named ‘Mikanken 4’.
Cultivation of the variety does not require special conditions or treatments.
The variety is currently mainly intended for fruit production.
SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY
The new mandarin plant ‘Mikanken4’ has leaf blades with very small length/width ratio, fruit with dark orange surface color, and late maturity for consumption (typically May), which distinguish ‘Mikanken4’ from its female parent ‘Kiyomi’.
Further, the new mandarin plant ‘Mikanken4’ has fruit with an absence of neck, which distinguishes it notably from its male parent ‘MINEOLA’.
Also, the new mandarin plant ‘Mikanken4’ having leaf blades with very small length/width ratio, and late maturity for consumption (typically May), and its fruit having a proximal part with a flattened general shape, distinguish it notably from the comparative variety ‘Ehimekashi48’,
A comparison with the female parent ‘KIYOMI’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages):
TABLE 1
Female parent Present variety
No. Characteristics ‘KIYOMI’ ‘Mikanken4’
16 Leaf blade: ratio length/width Small (2.2) Very small (1.9)
83 Fruit surface: predominant Yellow orange Orange
color(s) RHS 17A RHS N25C
119 Time of maturity of fruit for Medium (March) Late (May)
consumption
A comparison with the male parent ‘MINEOLA’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages):
TABLE 2
Male parent Present variety
No. Characteristics ‘MINEOLA’ ‘Mikanken4’
66 Fruit: presence of neck Present Absent
A comparison with the reference variety ‘Ehimekashi48’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages):
TABLE 3
Reference variety Present variety
No. Characteristics ‘Ehimekashi48’ ‘Mikanken4’
16 Leaf blade: ratio length/width Small (2.2) Very small (1.9)
65 Fruit: general shape of Strongly rounded Flattened
proximal part
119 Time of maturity of fruit for Medium (March) Late (May)
consumption
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 the mandarin plant ‘Mikanken4’ bearing fruits;
FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing leaves of ‘Mikanken4’
FIG. 3 is a color photograph showing flowers of ‘Mikanken4’;
FIG. 4 is a color photograph showing fruits of ‘Mikanken4’;
FIG. 5 is a color photograph showing the leaves of ‘Mikanken4’ and its female parent ‘KIYOMI’, illustrating the difference in the predominant color of fruit surface;
FIG. 6 is a color photograph showing fruits of ‘Mikanken4’ and the comparative variety ‘Ehimekashi48’, illustrating the difference in the general shape of the proximal part.
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 The botanical description and the photographs are of the ‘Mikanken4’ plants evaluated in 2024 (including for the comparison with the reference plants ‘KIYOMI’ and ‘Ehimekashi48’). Values as provided are averages.
The plants shown on the photographs were grown at Uwajima, Ehime, Japan. The plant is a 15-year grown after top grafting. The tree was photographed on Mar. 25, 2024, the flowers were photographed on Apr. 25, 2024, the mature leaves were photographed on Mar. 25, 2024, and the fruit were photographed on Mar. 29, 2024.
Colors are given according to the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Colour Chart (Fourth Ed., 2001).
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION TABLE 4
No. Characteristics States Values
1. Ploidy Diploid
2. Tree: growth habit Spreading
3. Tree: density of spines Intermediate
4. Tree: length of spines Short 2.2 cm
5. Tree height 2.7 m
6. Tree spread 3.2 m
7. Trunk diameter 27.7 cm
8. Trunk texture Rough
9. Trunk color Green brown RHS 152B
10. Crotch angle 47.5°
11. Branch length Short 9.8 cm
12. Branch texture Smooth
13. Branch color Brown green RHS 146A
14. Leaf blade: length (apical leaflet in case Medium 8.0 cm
of compound leaf)
15. Leaf blade: width (as for 5) Medium 4.3 cm
16. Leaf blade: ratio length/width (as for 5) Very small 1.9
17. Leaf blade: shape in cross section Intermediate
(as for 5)
18. Leaf blade: twisting Absent or
weak
19. Leaf blade: blistering Absent or
weak
20. Leaf blade: green color Medium
21. Leaf blade: undulation of margin Intermediate
22. Leaf blade: incisions of margin Absent
23. Leaf blade: shape of apex Acute
24. Leaf blade: emargination at tip Present
25. Leaf blade size Medium 22.4 cm2
(length 8.0
cm, width
4.3 cm)
26. Leaf arrangement Alternate
27. Leaf type Simple leaf
28. Leaf shape Fusiform
29. Leaf color: upper surface Dark green RHS 141A
30. Leaf color: lower surface Brown green RHS 137D
31. Petiole: length Medium 1.8 cm
32. Petiole: presence of wings Present
33. Petiole diameter Medium 1.8 mm
34. Petiole color Dark green RHS 141A
35. Petiole wings Present
36. Petiole attachment (Not
examined)
37. Petiole texture Smooth
38. Varieties with petiole wings present Narrow 3.3 mm
only:
Petiole: width of wings
39. Flower: type Single
40. Flower: diameter of calyx — 0.9 cm
41. Flower: number of petals 5
42. Flower: sepal size length 0.55
cm, width
0.93 cm
43. Flower: sepal shape Synsepalous
calyx
44. Flower: sepal color Light green RHS 144D
45. Flower: length of petal Short 13.7 mm
46. Flower: width of petal Medium 6.0 mm
47. Flower: ratio length/ width of petal — 2.3
48. Petal color: upper surface White RHS 155A
49. Petal color: lower surface White RHS 155A
50. Petal texture Smooth
51. Flower: length of stamens — 9.2 mm
52. Flower: blooming period Medium May 1-10
53. Flower: fragrance Present
54. Flower: fertility Present
55. Pollen abundance Absent
56. Pollen color (Not
examined)
57. Anther: color Light yellow RHS 8D
58. Style: length — 6.7 mm
59. Infructescence: clustering of fruits Present
60. Fruit: length — 7.4 cm
61. Fruit: diameter — 8.6 cm
62. Fruit: ratio length/diameter Medium 1.16
63. Fruit: position of broadest part At middle
64. Fruit: shape in transverse section Circular
65. Fruit: general shape of proximal part Flattened
(excluding neck, collar and depression
at stalk end)
66. Fruit: presence of neck Absent
67. Fruit: presence of depression at stalk Present
end
68. Fruit: depth of depression at stalk end — 2.0 mm
69. Fruit: presence of constriction at stalk Absent
end
70. Fruit: number of radial grooves at Intermediate
stalk end
71. Fruit: length of radial grooves at stalk Short to 10.1
end medium
72. Fruit: presence of collar Absent
73. Fruit: abscission layer between floral Absent or
disc and fruit weakly
developed
74. Fruit: general shape of distal part Flattened
(excluding nipple, bulging of navel
and depression at distal end)
75. Fruit: presence of depression at distal Present
end
76. Fruit: depth of depression at distal end — 2.6 mm
77. Fruit: diameter of depression at distal — 14.5 mm
end
78. Fruit: presence of areola Absent
79. Fruit: diameter of stylar scar — 2.1 mm
80. Fruit: persistence of style None
81. Fruit: presence of navel opening Absent
82. Fruit: presence of radial grooves at Absent
distal end
83. Fruit surface: predominant color(s) Orange RHS N25C
84. Fruit surface: glossiness Medium
85. Fruit surface: roughness Smooth
86. Fruit surface: size of oil glands All more or
less the same
size
87. Fruit surface: size of larger oil glands Small
88. Fruit surface: conspicuousness of larger Strong
oil glands
89. Fruit surface: presence of pitting and Pitting and
pebbling on oil glands pebbling
absent
90. Fruit rind: thickness Medium 3.5 mm
91. Fruit weight Heavy 286 g
92. Fruit rind: adherence to flesh Weak
93. Fruit rind: strength Weak
94. Fruit rind: oiliness Dry
95. Fruit rind: conspicuousness of oil Absent or
glands on inner surface weakly
conspicuous
96. Fruit: color of albedo Light yellow RHS 8C
97. Fruit: density of albedo Medium
98. Fruit: amount of albedo adhering to Small
flesh (strands excluded)
99. Fruit: presence of albedo strands Absent
100. Fruit: main color of flesh Dark orange RHS N25C
101. Fruit: filling of core Absent or
very sparse
102. Fruit: diameter of core Very small 10.9 mm
103. Fruit: presence of rudimentary Absent or
segments very weak
104. Fruit: number of well-developed — 12
segments
105. Fruit: coherence of adjacent segment Strong
walls
106. Fruit: strength of segment walls Weak
107. Fruit: length of juice vesicle — 6.2 mm
108. Fruit: thickness of juice vesicles — 2.6 mm
109. Fruit; conspicuousness of juice High
vesicle walls
110. Fruit: coherence of juice vesicles Medium
111. Fruit: presence of navel (viewed Absent or
internally) very rare
112. Fruit: juiciness High
113. Fruit juice: total soluble solids High 12.8 (Brix)
114. Fruit juice: acidity High 1.95
mg/100 ml
115. Fruit: strength of fiber Weak
116. Fruit: number of seeds (controlled Absent or 0
manual self-pollination) very few
117. Fruit: number of seeds (open Absent or 0
pollination) very few
118. Seed: polyembryony Absent
119. Time of maturity of fruit for Late May
consumption
120. Productivity (pounds or bushels per (Not
acre) examined)
121. Fruit: parthenocarpy Present
Other features of the plant are as follows:
- Disease and Pest resistance: Normal resistance was observed for pests and diseases in Uwajima, Ehime, Japan.
- Tree hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zone Pa-9b.
- Fruit ship ability: medium, slightly inferior compared to the variety ‘IYOKAN’ which has excellent storage ability.
- Fruit storage ability: medium.
