Sudachi Ichandrin Papeda Hybrid Budwood

Citrus sudachi.
Citrus ichangensis x C. reticulata var. austere.

Sudachi arose as a chance seedling in the Tokushima Prefecture of Japan, on Shikoku island, where it has traditionally been grown.

When harvested young, Sudachi is considered to have a distinctive fragrance that is different from Yuzu. The young fruits are used for cooking while still green.

Significantly smaller than Yuzu, the average fruit size has a mean width of 3.8 cm (1.5 inches) and a height of 3.4 cm (1.3 inches), giving an average height-to-width ratio of 0.90 and an oblate shape, although some fruits can be round. Sudachi has a mean weight per fruit of 27.2 grams (0.96 ounces). Color break was reached between the first and third week of September. The rind texture is slightly pebbly with a mean thickness of 1.9 mm (0.07 inches). The number of seeds per fruit averages 9.1, much less than the average Yuzu fruit. The mean juice weight is 9.6 grams (0.34 ounces) and the average juice content is 34.4%, higher than Yuzu, which is fitting as Sudachi is primarily used for juice. The juice weight and juice content increased during the sampling dates. The internal flesh color of Sudachi in the green stage is light green to green-yellow.  Sudachi is slightly more acidic than Yuzu with an average of 5% citric acid.

Sudachi trees tend to have a spreading habit of moderate vigor, but can be considered a small- to medium-sized tree, as 26-year-old trees on Carrizo and C-35 citrange rootstocks are only approximately 8 feet tall, with no indications of rootstock-scion incompatibility. Thorns up to 5 mm in length are present in each leaf axil. Leaves are elliptical in shape, with a small-winged petiole. The tree canopy has dense branching.

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

Season of ripeness at Riverside: When used for cooking purposes, Sudachi is harvested while still green which occurs during September to October.

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