Research Programs

Spotlight on New Research: New Seedless Citrus Varieties from Irradiated Budwood

Dr. Mikeal Roose and Tim Williams from the UC Riverside Dept. of Botany and Plant Sciences examine mandarin fruit for seediness in a field trial at Lindcove REC. The original budwood for these trees was irradiated at UC Riverside to induce mutations that disrupt seed formation. Lindcove REC staff grafted, reared and planted dozens of trees resulting from the irradiated budwood here at Lindcove. The researchers examine the fruit of the trees and if a tree produces excellent quality fruit with low seediness, then they develop a line of citrus from that tree. The 'Tango' mandarin is a notable example of a very low-seeded variety that was originally a W. Murcott Afourer. The Tango variety is commercially available to growers in the form of budwood via the Citrus Clonal Protection Program.

Examination of fruit for seedlessness