Chile has high hopes for new mandarin variety

A new seedless mandarin developed by the Citrus Genetic Improvement Programme at the Catholic University of Chile will launch commercially next year.

Isabelina is derived from the Oronules clementine variety but has the significant advantage of not generating seeds, even in the presence of pollen from other citrus fruits.

Speaking to Mundoagro, the programme’s lead researcher, Johanna Mártiz, said: “Commercial trials have shown promising results, maintaining the desirable characteristics of its parent variety, such as colour and size, but with the possibility of being harvested even earlier. This represents an advantage for areas susceptible to frost or with harsher winters”.

The aim of the programme is to meet growing demand for fresh citrus by developing differentiated products in a highly competitive market.

European growers have already expressed an interest in the new variety, and its developers believe it has the potential to position itself in demanding markets such as the US and Spain, the world’s biggest producer of mandarins.

Analysts said the new variety underlines the importance of innovation in Chile, not only in the citrus sector, but also in agriculture in general, marking a milestone in genetic improvement and in the offer of products adapted to the needs of the local and international market.