Evaluation of 'Clementine' x 'Kara' Mandarin Hybrids

Abstract

Mandarin is one of the most important citrus fruit and has been subject to various breeding research to obtain new cultivars through hybridization. A mandarin breeding program has been going on for a long time in Alata Horticultural Research Station, Mersin, Turkey. In the program, a lot of cultivars have been used as parents. In the present study, the results obtained by crossing a monoembryonic 'Clementine' and late-maturing 'Kara' mandarin is reported. One hundred and seventeen hybrids and the two parents were evaluated for their fruit characteristics during four years. Important variations in fruit parameters were observed between the hybrids. Fruit weight of hybrid plants ranged between 44 and 231 g. Number of seeds varied from 3.8 to 45.8 whereas juice content ranged between 13.6 and 61.0%. According to four years of observations, harvest period of hybrids extended from mid-October to end of February