USPP29438P3 - Lemon tree named ‘Code 3X97’ - Google Patents

Abstract

‘Code 3X97’ is a new and distinct lemon tree notable for its high quality seedless fruit.

Description

Genus and species: Citrus limon.

Variety denomination: ‘Code 3X97’.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The new lemon variety ‘Code 3X97’ originated as an induced mutation of ‘Eureka’ lemon (not patented). Gamma irradiation from a Gammacell 200 (60C) source was applied to bud sticks of ‘Eureka’ in 1998 at Emerald, Queensland, Australia. The irradiated bud sticks were budded onto ‘Carrizo’ rootstock (not patented) in 1998 at Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia, and the trees that survived were field planted at Bundaberg in 1999. The selection now known as ‘Code 3X97’ was identified as showing consistently fewer seeds than the parent variety, with no significant reduction in fruit size. A comparative trial was planted in 2003, using ‘Code 3X97’ budwood on ‘Benton’ (not patented) rootstock. Successive generations have consistently shown few seeds and have reproduced true to type.

‘Code 3X97’ is a new and distinct lemon tree notable for its fruit, which produces consistently low numbers of seeds. Table 1 shows a comparison of ‘Code 3X97’ lemon to ‘Eureka’ and other similar (unpatented) varieties.

TABLE 1
Comparison of ‘Code 3X97’ to Known Varieties

Characteristic	‘Code 3X97’	‘3 ELS 0’	‘Eureka’
Seed quantity	Absent to	Absent to	Many
	few	few
Mean fruit length (mm)	76.88	74.56	84.76
Mean fruit diameter (mm)	54.52	57.16	62.84
Fruit length/diameter ratio	1.41	1.31	1.35
Rind thickness (mm)	4.32	4.48	5.24

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 shows whole and sectioned fruit of ‘Code 3X97’ lemon and other varieties;

FIG. 2 shows a ‘Code 3X97’ lemon tree; and,

FIG. 3 shows the trunk and branches of a ‘Code 3X97’ lemon tree.

The tree shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is an eleven year old tree planted in 2003. Because lighting conditions can affect the colors shown in photographic illustrations, color characteristics of this new variety should be determined with reference to the observations described herein, rather than from the illustrations alone.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed botanical description is based on observations of trees and fruit of ‘Code 3X97’, budded to ‘Benton’ rootstock (not patented) and planted in 2003. Observations were recorded and photographs taken during the 2006 and 2014 growing seasons at Mundubbera, Queensland, Australia. It should be understood that the characteristics described will vary somewhat depending upon cultural practices and climatic conditions, and can vary with location and season. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from a number of individual plants of the new variety. The measurements of any individual plant, or any group of plants, of the new variety may vary from the stated average. Colors are described with reference to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (5^th edition, 2007).

Tree:
Vigor	Vigorous
Density of canopy	Open center
Habit	Upright spreading
Height	4 m
Spread	3 m
Trunk diameter (at 30 cm	138 mm
above graft)
Bark texture	Smooth
Bark color	Greyed-orange 163D, greyed-purple N187A
Lenticel size	1 mm
Lenticel color	Greyed-purple N187A
Lenticel quantity	Many, 2 to 4 per cm2
Tendency toward alternate	None
bearing
Winter hardiness	Same as ‘Eureka’, performs well in USDA
	hardiness zones 9 and 10
Chilling requirement	Same as ‘Eureka’, no chilling requirement
Branch (fruiting branch
located about 1 m above
graft union):
Length	80 cm
Diameter	5.4 cm
Crotch angle	Approximately 30 degrees
Bark color	Greyed-orange 163D, greyed-purple
	N187A
Bark texture	Smooth
Thorns	Present on new growth
Thorn length	Small, 8 to 10 mm
Current year shoot
Length	87 cm

Color Green 140A Blossoms

Bud shape	Oval
Bud length	2.1 mm
Bud diameter
	1 mm
Bud color	Yellow-green 144A
Quantity of blossoms	4 to 7
per cluster
Blossom diameter	21 mm
Blossom depth	18 mm
Pollen	None
Sepal length	4.6 mm
Sepal width	4.5 mm
Sepal shape	Arched
Sepal margin	Smooth
Sepal color - upper surface	Yellow 2B
Sepal color - lower surface	Yellow 3B
Quantity of petals per	4
flower
Petal shape	Elongated arch
Petal apex	Rounded to acute
Petal margin	Smooth
Petal length	16 mm
Petal width	5 mm
Petal color - upper surface	White NN155D
Petal color - lower surface	White NN155D, violet 84D
Date of first bloom	Late August
Date of full bloom	Early September
Flowering habit	More than once in a season, up to
	7 flowerings observed
Date of first fruitlet fall	November
Pedicel length	4.7 mm
Pedicel diameter	1.6 mm
Pedicel color	Yellow-green 151C
Pistil quantity per flower	1
Pistil length	11.6 mm
Pistil color	Orange 26A, yellow 9A, yellow-
	green 144A
Anther quantity per flower	1
Anther length	2.7 mm
Anther color	Orange 26A
Stigma quantity per flower	1
Stigma length	1.8 mm
Stigma color	Yellow 9A
Style quantity per flower	1
Style length	6.4 mm
Style color	Yellow 1B
Ovary quantity per flower	1
Ovary length	4.4 mm
Ovary diameter	2.5 mm
Ovary color	Yellow-green 144A
Leaves
Length	104.4 mm
Width	56.2 mm
Length/width ratio	1.85
Blade margin	Crenate
Leaf shape	Oval, weak concave
Apex shape	Acute
Base shape	Cuneate
Color of upper surface	Green 143B
Color of lower surface	Yellow-green 145A
Anthocyanin coloration	Weak, less intense than ‘Eureka’
in young leaf
Leaf texture (upper	Smooth
surface)
Petiole length	12.4 mm
Petiole diameter	2.9 mm
Petiole color	Yellow-green N144D
Wings	None
Fruit
Quantity per cluster	4
Axial diameter	80.48 mm
Apical diameter	59.88 mm
Weight	151 g
General shape in profile	Oval
Position of maximum	Middle of fruit
diameter
Navel	None
Neck	Present, very short
Nipple	Present, weak to medium prominence
Rind color	Green 140E3
Glossiness	Weak
Oil glands per cm2	About 40
Oil gland diameter	1 mm
Oiliness	Oily
Rind thickness	4.32 mm
Ease of peeling	Difficult
Rind texture	Smooth
Albedo thickness
	3 mm
Albedo color	Yellow 2C
Quantity of fruit seg-	7.7 (average of 25 fruit)
ments per fruit
Toughness of segment	Moderate
membrane
Juice sac length	7 mm
Juice sac shape	Cylinder
Juice sac length to	7:1.3
width ratio
Juice sac color	Yellow 2C
Flesh color	Yellow 2C
Juice soluble solids	7.9
(° Brix)
Relative harvest maturity	Early
Harvest window	January through December
(date range)
Seeds present	None or very few
Stem length	20 mm
Stem diameter	4 mm
Stem color	Yellow-green 144B
Parthenocarpy	Absent
Diseases and pests	No distinguishing resistance or
	susceptibility noted
Harvest yield:	50 to 100 Tons per hectare
Market use:	Fresh
Keeping quality:	Same as ‘Eureka’
Shipping quality:	Same as ‘Eureka’

Claims (1)

The invention claimed is:

1. A new and distinct variety of lemon tree, substantially as illustrated and described herein.

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