Citrus l. plant named ‘HAYASE’
The 'HAYASE' Mandarin variety, developed through asexual propagation, addresses the need for specific traits like low spine density and early maturity, offering commercial advantages and disease resistance, enhancing fruit production.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- US19/037025
- Authority / Receiving Office
- US · United States
- Patent Type
- Patents(United States)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-24
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-23
- Estimated Expiration
- 2045-01-24
AI Technical Summary
There is a need for a new and distinct variety of Mandarin citrus that exhibits specific characteristics such as low spine density, straight-style fruit shape, medium to heavy fruit weight, low acidity, and early maturity, which are not adequately addressed by existing varieties like 'TSUNONOZOMI', 'SETOKA', and 'ASUMI'.
The development of the 'HAYASE' Mandarin variety, which is asexually reproduced by vegetative propagation, combining traits from 'TSUNONOZOMI' and 'SETOKA', resulting in a tree with a spindle-shaped leaf blade, flat fruit apex, and high sweetness, and exhibiting characteristics like few spines, no pollen, and early fruiting.
The 'HAYASE' variety achieves distinct traits of low spine density, straight-style fruit shape, medium fruit weight, low acidity, and early maturity, distinguishing it from comparative varieties, with commercial potential for fruit production and resistance to pests and diseases.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
[0001] Common name: Mandarin.
[0002] Botanical classification: Citrus sp.
[0003] Variety denomination: ‘HAYASE’.BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY
[0004] The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Mandarin, Citrus sp., which has been given the variety denomination ‘HAYASE’.ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY
[0005] The parent varieties are ‘TSUNONOZOMI’ (female parent) (not patented in the U.S.), and ‘SETOKA’ (male parent) (not patented in the U.S.) respectively.
[0006] The variety was developed and propagated in Minami-Shimabara, Nagasaki, Japan.
[0007] The variety was reproduced asexually by vegetative reproduction by top grafting one-year-old scions on rootstocks, also in Minami-Shimabara, Nagasaki, Japan. The rootstock used was satsuma mandarin (not patented) as an interstock grafted onto Poncirus trifoliata (trifoliate orange).
[0008] In 2001, the parent varieties were crossed. Seeds were collected to be grown in the next year.
[0009] In 2002, seeds were grown and seedlings were grafted on top of ‘Shiikuwasha’ rootstock.
[0010] In 2005, first fruiting was observed.
[0011] In 2008, preliminary individual selection and characteristics evaluation were performed. Selected plants were grafted on top of satsuma mandarin interstock.
[0012] In 2017, the plant was named ‘Kankitsu kuchinotsu 53’ as a provisional name for a promising breeding line. Growing tests for local adaptability were started under confidentiality conditions.
[0013] In 2023, breeding was completed with DUS status confirmed (distinct, uniform, and stable), whereby it was confirmed that the instant tree reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.
[0014] In 2024, the variety was named ‘HAYASE’ and PVP application No. 37,416 was filed on May 8, 2024 in the Plant Variety Protection Office in Japan, whose content is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0015] Cultivation of the variety does not require special conditions or treatments.
[0016] The variety is currently mainly intended for fruit production.SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY
[0017] This new mandarin plant ‘HAYASE’ has tree habit in-between upright and spreading, spindle-shaped leaf blade with acuminate apex and acute base, vestigial wing, fruit with high diameter / height ratio (average 1.34) and medium weight (average 149.9 g), no neck, a flat distal part, bright orange (JHS 1305) skin color, thin peel thickness, easy to medium peeling, deep orange (JHS 1307) color when fresh, juicy when fresh, high sweetness, very few seeds, early maturity, and low acidity.
[0018] Specifically, Table 1 below shows a comparison between the instant variety ‘HAYASE’ and the female parent ‘TSUNONOZOMI’ as follows (evaluation based on averages):
[0019] TABLE 1Comparison between ‘HAYASE’ and ‘TSUNONOZOMI’Female parentPresent ‘TSUNON-varietyOZOMI’‘HAYASE’No.CharacteristicsDescriptionsDescriptions 9One year old medium (16%)few (5%)shoot: spine (number of spines perleaf nodes) (%)46Style shapecurvedstraight51Fruit: shape of sinkingflatteneddistal part85Seedsfew to mediumvery few(6.2 seeds / fruit)(0.8 seeds / fruit)87Polyembryonyabsentpresent
[0020] Table 2 below shows a comparison between the instant variety ‘HAYASE’ and the male parent ‘SETOKA’, which is also a comparative variety.
[0021] TABLE 2Comparison between ‘HAYASE’ and ‘SETOKA’ReferencePresentvarietyvariety‘SETOKA’‘HAYASE’No.CharacteristicsDescriptionsDescriptions 9One-year old shoot:many (62%)few (5%)spine (number ofspines per leaf nodes) (%)44Pollensfewnone46Style shapecurvedstraight62Fruit weightheavy medium (209.1 g)(149.9 g)84Aciditymedium lowto high(0.90 g / (1.34 g / 100 ml)100 ml)
[0022] The fruit of ‘HAYASE’ having few spines on a one year old shoot, no pollen, a straight-style shape, medium to heavy weight, and low acidity, distinguishes it notably from comparative variety ‘SETOKA’ (not patented in US) having many spines on one year old shoot, few pollens, a curved-style shape, heavy weight, and medium to high acidity.
[0023] Table 3 below shows a comparison between the instant variety ‘HAYASE’ and the comparative variety ‘ASUMI’ (not patented in U.S.).
[0024] TABLE 3Comparison between ‘HAYASE’ and ‘ASUMI’ReferencePresentvarietyvariety‘ASUMI’‘HAYASE’No.CharacteristicsDescriptionsDescriptions 9One-year old shoot: intermediate few (5%)spine (number of(29%)spines per leaf nodes) (%)44Pollensmediumnone46Style shapecurvedstraight84Aciditymediumlow(1.23 g / (0.90 g / 100 ml)100 ml)87Polyembryonyabsentpresent
[0025] Table 4 below shows a comparison between the instant variety ‘HAYASE’ and the comparative variety ‘ASUKI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,146 P3).
[0026] TABLE 4Comparison between ‘HAYASE’ and ‘ASUKI’ReferencePresentvarietyvariety‘ASUKI’‘HAYASE’No.CharacteristicsDescriptionsDescriptions44Pollensfewnone46Style shapecurvedstraight84Aciditymedium lowto high(0.90 g / (1.30 g / 100 ml)100 ml)87Polyembryonyabsentpresent91Time of maturity of lateearlyfruit for consumption(March)(January)BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] In the accompanying drawings, which are as nearly true as is reasonable possible to make in a color illustration of this type:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a color photograph showing a general view of an illustrative mandarin tree of the variety named ‘HAYASE’ bearing fruits.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing flowers of ‘HAYASE’.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a color photograph showing flower organs of ‘HAYASE’.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a color photograph showing fruits of ‘HAYASE’.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a color photograph showing sections of fruit of ‘HAYASE’.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a color photograph showing flowers of ‘HAYASE’, together with flowers of ‘SETOKA’ (male parent and comparative variety) and ‘TSUNONOZOMI’ (female parent).
[0034] FIG. 7 is a color photograph showing the horizontal section, the transverse section, upper view and lower view of a fruit of ‘HAYASE’ together with a fruit of female parent ‘TSUNONOZOMI’, and male parent ‘SETOKA’, illustrating the difference between the fruit apex shape, in that the fruit of ‘HAYASE’ has a flat apex, whereas the fruit of ‘TSUNONOZOMI’ has a sinking apex.
[0035] FIG. 8 is a color photograph showing a fruiting state on the tree of ‘HAYASE’.
[0036] FIG. 9 is another color photograph showing a fruiting state on the tree of ‘HAYASE’.
[0037] Due to chemical and / or digital development, processing and printing, the plants or portions of plants depicted in the photographs may or may not be precisely accurate, when compared to the actual botanical specimens.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] Table 3 below shows the botanical description of the ‘HAYASE’ plants evaluated in 2022 and 2023 (including the comparison with the reference plant ‘SETOKA’). The values provided are averages. The ages of the trees evaluated was 7 years, and the location of the trees evaluated was Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, Japan.
[0039] The ‘HAYASE’ plants shown on the photographs were grown at Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, Japan. The plants were 7-year grown trees after top grafting. The tree was photographed on Nov. 24, 2023, the flowers were photographed on Apr. 30, 2023, and the fruits were photographed on Jan. 5, 2023.
[0040] Colors are given according to the J.H.S. (Japan Horticultural Society) Color Chart.BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
[0041] TABLE 5Botanical description of ‘HAYASE’No.CharacteristicsDescriptionsValues 1.Tree habitin-between uprightand spreading 2.Shoot densitydense 3.Tree size: average height2.3 m 4.Tree size: average spread2.4 m 5.Tree vigormedium 6.One year old shoot: diametermedium2.7 mm 7.One year old shoot: lengthmedium11.9 cm 8.One year old shoot: internodemedium1.7 cm 9.One year old shoot: spine (number few5%of spines per leaf nodes) (%)10.Spine: average sizevery short1.9 mm11.Spine: average colordull greenish JHS 2910yellow12.Leaf blade: shapespindle shaped13.Leaf blade: apex shapeacuminate14.Leaf blade: base shapeacute15Leaf blade: waveweak16.Leaf blade: sizemedium21.1 cm217.Leaf blade: lengthmedium8.2 cm18Leaf blade: widthnarrow3.5 cm19.Leaf shape (length / width ratio)medium2.420.Leaf thicknessmedium0.34 mm21.Leaf vein: clarity of upper surfaceslightly clear22.Leaf vein: color of upper surfacesoft yellow JHS 3310green23.Leaf color: upper surfacedark greenJHS 400724.Leaf color: lower surfacesoft greenJHS 370925.Wing shapevestigial26.Wing lengthmedium13.9 mm27.Wing widthnarrow3.2 mm28.Petiole lengthmedium17.7 mm29.Petiole diameter (base)medium1.5 mm30.Petiole colorsoft yellow JHS 3511green31.Peduncle colorsoft yellow JHS 3511green32Inflorescencesingle33.Flower weight (beginning oflight0.23 gflowering)34.Petal shape (full flowering)lanceolate35.Petal length (full flowering)short10.9 mm36.Petal width (full flowering)narrow4.9 mm37.Petal color (full flowering, outside)yellowish JHS 2902white38.Petal number539.Pistil average lengthshort7.9 mm40.Stamen average lengthshort6.3 mm41.Stamen: average color of antheryellowish JHS 2701white42.Filament numberfew17.343.Filament separationseparating44.Pollensnone45.Ovary shapecompressed46.Style shapestraight47.Fruit: average diametermedium70.1 mm48.Fruit: average heightmedium52.5 mm49.Fruit: shape of proximal partflattened50.Fruit: diameter / height ratiohigh1.3451.Fruit: shape of distal partflattened52.Fruit: broadest partat middle53.Fruit: radial groove at distal partabsent54.Fruit: apex concave ring (circularabsentdepression or disk-shapedprotuberance around the style scar)55.Fruit: radial groove at proximal partvery few0.656Fruit: stalk end depressionabsent57.Fruit: collarabsent58.Fruit: shape in transverse sectioncircular59.Fruit: areolaabsent60.Core densitysparse61.Core size (core diameter / fruitsmall19.1diameter)62.Fruit weightmedium149.9 g63.Skin colorbright orangeJHS 130564.Albedo colorpale reddish JHS 2202orange65.Oil gland sizemixed, includingsmall, medium,and large66.Oil gland numbermedium66.8 cm267.Oil gland surfaceconvex68.Fruit surfacesmooth to medium69.Fruit surface glossinessmedium70.Amount of albedo adhering to fruitsmallflesh (not including fruit strands)71.Fruit navel (when viewed internally)absent72.Fruit average number of segmentsmany1373.Fruit average number of absent or rudimentary segmentsfew74.Peel thicknessthin2.0 mm75.Pericarp percentagesmall16.1%76.Peelingeasy to medium77.Septum firmnesssoft78.Juice sacs shapemedium79.Juice sacs sizemedium80.Flesh colordeep orangeJHS 130781.Juiciness of fleshjuicy82.Sweetnesshigh13.6 (Brix)83.Bitternessnot bitter84.Aciditylow0.90 g / 100 ml85.Seeds / fruit (since there are very very few0.8 onfew, the seed characteristics were not measured)average86.Embryo color (multigerm only)pale yellow JHS 3102green87.Polyembryonypresent88.Sprouting timemediumearly April89.Flowering timemediumearly May90.Flowering habitflowering once91.Time of maturityearlyJanuary92.Fruit shipping qualitymoderate93.Fruit storage lifemoderate1-2 months94.Fruit market useas fresh fruit95.Fruit market productivity40 kg / plantOTHER FEATURES OF THE PLANT ARE AS FOLLOWS
[0042] Disease and pest resistance: normal resistance was observed for pests and diseases in Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka Japan, in particular the following pests: thrips, fruit-piercing stink bugs, scales; and the following diseases: Citrus canker, melanose, botrytis fruit injury.
[0043] Tree hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zone: 9a-9b.
Examples
Embodiment Construction
[0038]Table 3 below shows the botanical description of the ‘HAYASE’ plants evaluated in 2022 and 2023 (including the comparison with the reference plant ‘SETOKA’). The values provided are averages. The ages of the trees evaluated was 7 years, and the location of the trees evaluated was Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, Japan.
[0039]The ‘HAYASE’ plants shown on the photographs were grown at Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, Japan. The plants were 7-year grown trees after top grafting. The tree was photographed on Nov. 24, 2023, the flowers were photographed on Apr. 30, 2023, and the fruits were photographed on Jan. 5, 2023.
[0040]Colors are given according to the J.H.S. (Japan Horticultural Society) Color Chart.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
[0041]
TABLE 5Botanical description of ‘HAYASE’No.CharacteristicsDescriptionsValues 1.Tree habitin-between uprightand spreading 2.Shoot densitydense 3.Tree size: average height2.3 m 4.Tree size: average spread2.4 m 5.Tree vigormedium 6.One year old shoot: diametermedium2.7 mm ...
Claims
1. A new and distinct variety of Citrus sp. tree named ‘HAYASE’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.