New citrus variety information sheets available

New citrus variety information sheets available  

17 September 2020

By Dave Monks, Dareton Primary Industries Institute Director, NSW DPI

The NSW Department of Primary Industries, supported by Hort Innovation, has evaluated new citrus varieties for Australian citrus growers for the past 20. DPI was the first to show Afourer mandarins in Australia, were involved in developing common oranges for fresh fruit and processing, and continue to provide an independent evaluation of new citrus varieties in this new era of PBR (Plant Breeder’s Rights) protected varieties.

A new suite of variety information sheets is being released, developed from data collected at the Dareton Primary Industries Institute, Sunraysia. The sheets are available through our website here (click on the Rootstocks & Varieties tab). You can see an example here.

The sheets present the estimated maturity window in the Riverina and Sunraysia, internal quality in that maturity window (Brix°, acid %, ratios, skin thickness, number of seeds), general comments, and, in most cases, sequential juice results from representative seasons.

In addition to the varieties presented in these newly released information sheets, we are evaluating fruit from 40 varieties this year, with 26 new varieties entering the program in the last 3 years (Table 1) in different stages ranging from early budwood-multiplication through to first fruits on top-worked trees.

Table 1. Recent variety introductions to the evaluation program.

This work has spanned more than 20 years, supporting good decisions on-farm and providing information to allow growers and industry members to also make informed decisions.

You are welcome to get in touch to discuss citrus varieties and to find out more about visiting the trial site and seeing fruit. Please call Dave Monks on 03 5019 8400, or email dave.monks@dpi.nsw.gov.au