Tahoe Gold Mandarin Budwood

Citrus reticulata.

Tahoe Gold TM (TDE3) 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. Tahoe Gold TM (TDE3) is a hybrid with Temple tangor, and Dancy and Encore mandarins in its parentage. The large oblate fruits have an attractive dark orange rind that is relatively thin. The flesh is seedless, bright orange, finely-textured and juicy. The flavor is rich and sweet when mature. The season for Tahoe Gold TM (TDE3) is mid-January to mid-February at Riverside. The fruit does not hold well on the tree.

Mid-late season maturing (late-January) mandarin hybrid that combines large fruit size, attractive deep orange rind color, rich fruit flavor and the virtual absence of seeds even in mixed plantings. Tahoe Gold mandarin fruit are slightly flattened in shape with a small neck. Ther average fruit size is medium-large for a mandarin (classed as size 21 by industry packing standards) with a mean width of 66mm (2.6 in.) and a height of 56 mm (2.20 in.), giving a height to width aspect ratio of 0.85, and a mean weight per fruit of 135 grams (4.75 oz.), heavy for the fruit size. Rind color is very deep reddish-orange. The rind texture is variable, depending on the tree age and crop. Rind texture is smooth to slightly pitted on fruit from older trees with moderate to heavy crops. The rind of the fruit from trees with very light crops can be excessively rough. The rind is of medium thickness and moderately easy to peel when fruit are mature. Flesh is deep orange in color, with a fine texture. The fruit is typically very juicy averaging 48% juice content and are quite sweet (13.5% brix in February, 15.5% in March) with a rich, distinctive flavor. Production is excellent (900-1000 cartons/acre) with most fruit borne inside the crown which protects the excellent fruit color from the sun.

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

Season of ripeness at Riverside, California: January to March

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