Yosemite Gold Mandarin Budwood

Citrus reticulata.

Yosemite Gold TM (TDE4) is a recently-released (2002) mandarin variety developed within the University of California Riverside citrus breeding program. The tree grows vigorously and is somewhat spreading in form, with a tendency to alternate bearing. It can achieve a moderately-large size at maturity. The large oblate fruits have an attractive smooth dark orange rind that is relatively thin. The flesh is seedless, bright orange, finely-textured and juicy. The flavor is rich and sweet. The season for Yosemite Gold TM (TDE4) is January to mid-March and the fruits hold well on the tree into April.

Late season (mid-February) maturing triploid mandarin hybrid that combines large fruit size, and attractive very deep orange rind color, rich fruit flavor and the virtual absence of seeds even in mixed plantings.  Yosemite Gold mandarin fruit are oblate (moderate flat) in shape, with little or no neck. The average fruit size is large for a mandarin (classed as size 15 by industry packing standards) with a mean width of 75mm (2.95 in.) and a height of 58 mm (2.30 in.), giving a height to width aspect ratio of 0.78, and a mean weight per fruit of 175 grams (6 oz.), heavy for the fruit size. Rind color is very deep reddish-orange with a smooth rind texture for fruit on trees with moderate to heavy crops. Rinds of fruit from trees with very light crops can be excessively rough. The rind is quite easy to peel when fruit are mature. Flesh is deep orange in color with a medium texture. The fruit is moderately juicy averaging 42% juice content and are quite sweet (13% brix in February, 16% in April) with a very rich and very distinctive flavor. Production is very good averaging 700-900 carton/acre.

Rootstocks of accession:  Carrizo citrange, C-35 citrange.

Season of ripeness at Riverside, California: February to April.

Prepared by the Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection at The University of California Riverside.