NEW CITRUS VARIETY EVALUATION IN AUSTRALIA 2005-2012

‘Evaluating new citrus varieties’ is a national project in Australia led by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and is a continuance of the Australian Citrus Improvement Program. This long term program is an industry driven initiative aimed at maintaining productivity and profitability. A cooperative agreement was developed between NSW DPI, Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL), Auscitrus and local variety managers of Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) varieties to undertake independent evaluation from 2005 to the present. Thirty one new varieties were included in the evaluation and their performance assessed in the major citrus growing regions of Australia. The varieties are predominantly mandarin and mandarin hybrids and 20 of the 31 have PBR protection. Varieties have been progressively released from Australian Post Entry Plant Quarantine with the final variety being field established in November 2011. Evaluation activities include standard fruit quality and yield determination as well as providing larger volumes of fruit from top-worked trees to approved agents for test marketing. Evaluation site visits to view PBR varieties are organised in conjunction with variety managers and fruit displays provided in the major citrus regions of Australia. New variety managers are encouraged to become part of the program and 10 new varieties have been included since 2011. The Australian Citrus Industry’s ‘Strategic Research and Development Plan 2012-2017’ highlights the need for continued evaluation of new citrus introductions and on-going funding has been sought from Horticulture Australia Ltd to continue the program.