Two new hybrids will be launched in 2016 - Sun Red tangerines, rich in anti-oxidants and with a high anthocyanin level, and grapefruit hybrid D2238, especially suitable for the fresh juice market.
Sun Red is a diploid hybrid originally called OTA9 and was obtained by crossing Oroval clementines and Moro oranges. It ripens in January-February and has a high anthocyanin pigment content that starts accumulating already in mid-November.
The medium-small grades and presence of seeds mean it is not suitable fore the fresh market but, despite this, the fruit has a higher anti-oxidant capability (ORAC value > 10,000) and anthocyanin and polyphenol content (~ 815 ppm and ~2900 mg/l respectively) than other pigmented varieties.
"Due to these unique characteristics, the juice may be used for the food and/or pharmaceutical industry and to produce healthy juices for specific market niches."
D2238 is the first grapefruit hybrid by Crea-Acm and was obtained by crossing Monreal clementines and a tetraploid grapefruit. Plants can produce up to 100-120 kg a year and no alternating phenomenons have been observed.
Fruits weigh around 180g and have an orange colour and delicate taste. Soluble solids are between 10 and 12.5° Brix and they have a low naringin content.
Ripening occurs already in late January, so 2 months earlier than the most common varieties, and harvesting can continue until May.
In addition to being early, D2238 is different from other grapefruit varieties due to its extremely low furanocoumarin levels (2.5 mg/l), which are what may cause collateral effects in some people and what drove consumption down. "Thanks to this, D2238 may be particularly suitable for the fresh juice market and it may be an ideal substitute for grapefruit in subtropical areas."
Source: Giuseppe Russo, Concetta Licciardello, Paola Caruso, Giuseppe Reforgiato Recupero, Donata Pietro Paolo, Maria Patrizia Russo, Gabriele Ballistreri, Simona Fabroni, Marco Caruso, 'Nuove selezioni dal Crea-Acm di Acireale', gennaio-febbraio 2016, Frutticoltura, Vol. 1/2 , page 42-44.
Contacts:
Giuseppe Reforgiato Recupero
CREA-ACM
Acireale (CT)
Email: giuseppe.reforgiato@entecra.it