THREE VARIEGATED CLEMENTINES OBTAINED BY IRRADIATION

Three variegated ‘Clementine’ mutants were selected at the Alata Horticultural Research Station of Mersin among the M₁V₃ ‘Clementine’ plants obtained from budwood Gamma ray irradiation at 30 gray. Young fruit rind color is attractively variegated but fruit rind color variegation fades with maturity and mature fruit rind color could easily masquerade as an ordinary ‘Clementine’. The young fruit rind is striped green and orange, but mature fruit rind has ridges. Seed number per fruit is reduced compared to the ‘Clementine’ control plants and vary between 7.5 and 13.07. Fruit weight are 72.73, 69.3 and 80.94 g, respectively, for variegated Clementine No.1, 2 and 3 and 110.10 g for control ‘Clementine’ plants. Other pomological characteristics are the same for variegated and control plants.