EFFECT OF BUDWOOD IRRADIATION ON SEED NUMBER OF 'CLEMENTINE', 'NOVA' AND 'ROBINSON' MANDARIN MUTANTS

In 2004, ‘Clementine’, ‘Nova’ and ‘Robinson’ budwood was Gamma irradiated at 30 and 50 gray doses. Irradiated buds were grafted on sour orange to produce M₁V₁ (first stage of mutation and vegetation) plants. Thus, M₁V₂ plants were produced from buds from M₁V₁ plants grafted on sour orange. In the same way, M₁V₃ plants have been obtained from M₁V₂ buds grafted on sour orange. In 2007, a total of 675 M₁V₃ plants were planted in the field with 5×2 m spacing. Ten non irradiated control plants were also planted in the same field. For two years, seed number of 135 ‘Clementine’, 110 ‘Nova’, 165 ‘Robinson’ potential mutants and control plants were determined. Fruits of each plant were harvested at maturity (November) in 2010-2011 and average seed number of all plants was determined. As a result, budwood irradiation decreased seed number in resulting mutant plants, especially for ‘Nova’ and ‘Robinson’ mandarins.