Scientific report: Tango is indistinguishable from Nadorcott

In a recent development affecting the matter between Nadorcott Protection SARL (NCP) & CITROGOLD (PTY) LTD against Eurosemillas, Stargrow & others (CASE NUMBER: 17606/14), a scientific report released by the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants (CSIC), a collaborative centre of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPVJ) and the Spanish Higher Council for Scientific Research, using the most advanced DNA comparative technology, supports the thesis that Tango is not distinguishable or, at least, essentially derived from Nadorcott.

The CSIC conducted a comparative study of the genomes of the varieties Tango and Nadorcott by utilizing a mass DNA sequencing technique, as reported by a recent press release distributed in Spain. Due to the increased genome coverage of the mass DNA sequencing technique, the scientific value of the results are superior to the techniques performed by using molecular markers.

The study first compared the genomes of both Nadorcott and then Tango with Clemenules and found significant differences in each case, thus providing evidence of the accuracy and power of the mass sequencing approach to differentiate between closely related citrus varieties. To compare Tango and Nadorcott directly, the study then identified 132,142 variable DNA positions that were detected when either Tango or Nadorcott were compared to Clemenules. An analysis of these variable DNA positions revealed that 99.9999997% were identical between Tango and Nadorcott.

The report concluded that there are no significant differences between the Tango and Nadorcott genomes and, therefore, the Tango variety and the Nadorcott variety share the same genotype and show a genetic conformity revealing an essential derivation.

With the legal matter in South Africa and the European Union still not settled, and the scientific evidence supporting the claim that the Tango is essentially derived from the Nadorcott, growers planting or intending making plantings and or marketing their fruit in these territories could face legal action and be prevented from doing so. Citrogold still advises growers to take a cautionary approach and to wait for the outcome of the legal proceedings before making any costly long-term planting decisions in respect of Tango.

To inform South African growers on matters related to the legal case before the Western Cape Division of the High Court in Cape Town, Citrogold has created a web page with content related to this matter. Citrogold will keep this page updated with developments on these matters in Spain and South Africa.