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FAST TRACK ….. For Nurseries. The Current Challenge. IFAS citrus breeding pipeline is producing Promising selections have been identified The fruit has promise, little else is known More selections are coming Growers and packers don’t want to wait on extensive traditional field trials
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The Current Challenge • IFAS citrus breeding pipeline is producing • Promising selections have been identified • The fruit has promise, little else is known • More selections are coming • Growers and packers don’t want to wait on extensive traditional field trials • Growers want to be involved in the evaluation process • Traditional replicated field trials take too long
FAST TRACK • FFSP, IFAS, NVDMC • A means of moving experimental fresh varieties to Florida growers for evaluation • Florida growers participate in experimental trials and offer input on commercial decisions • Program is coordinated with Nurseries • Future rates are fixed* • Encourage grower involvement • Generate revenue to the breeding program • Reward growers for participating • Reduce future rates and head start • Allow late adopters to participate • Support IFAS Plant Improvement Program • Three-Tier system
Tier One …… The Trial Stage The Program The Rate $50 participation fee per variety Minimum of 5 trees Maximum of 30 trees Cost of trees reimbursed by grower • Statewide announcement of the opportunity • All Florida growers invited to participate • Growers sign up for experimental trials • Enrollment period is 180 days, then closes. • Sign Evaluation Agreement • Fruit not for sale • IFAS staff/faculty involved in process • Formation of Grower Groups • Utilize one nursery per selection
Tier Two The Program The Rate $1.70 per tree $.20 retained by managing partner • If grower evaluators identify a variety for commercialization …… • Those in the Tier 1 grower group are eligible to plant commercially • Favorable Rate • Five year Head Start • Entry of more nurseries
Tier Three The Program The Rate $2.75 per tree $.25 retained by managing partner • After head start, all interested growers may enter • No growers are excluded • Rates approximate commercial fees
Early Option • May elect to trigger Tier 2 Commercial Step • Any time during 180 day registration • Any time during tier 1 • Would still pay Tier 1 fee and complete grower requirements (evaluation) • Patent costs covered by Tier 2 plantings. • If early option is elected, all Tier 1 growers are notified.
Summary • IFAS has a high volume of experimental material • FAST TRACK provides • Enhanced grower involvement • Faster movement to commercialization • Eliminate poor performing selections early • Real-world evaluation • No one excluded • Early adopters rewarded • Incentive pricing • Revenue to research sooner • Coordinated effort with industry, FFSP, IFAS, Nurseries
FAST TRACK Receiving support • Endorsements • Indian River Citrus League • Florida Citrus Production Managers Assoc. • Florida Citrus Mutual • Florida Citrus Packers • New Varieties Development & Mgt. Corp. • Gulf Citrus Growers Association • FNGLA’s Citrus Nursery Division • Recommendation to Proceed • Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association • Florida Farm Bureau
UF 411 • Large Mid Season Mandarin • Some seeds • Easy peel • Exceptional flavor • Productive
UF 900 • Early Season Mandarin – Sept/Oct • October ratio 12-14 • Some seeds • Great natural early color • Great flavor • Easy Peel
UF 950 • Easy peel • Seedless • Clementine size • Better average color than Clementine • Better flavor than Clementine • Dec maturity. Ratios 13-16 • Production Q’s
UF N40W-6-3 “Seedless Snack” • Seedless • Good flavor • Firm flesh • Oct-Nov maturity • Uniform fruit • Productive • Peelable, but not zipper skin
C4-15-19 • Early Maturing (Oct – Nov) Seedless Tangerine • Clementine size • Good ext & int color • Easy peel, improves with storage • 15-19 brix • Trees healthy so far, in infected block
UF 914 • Great color • Blush on peel • Grapefruit Size • Low in FC’s • Seedless • Good brix, lower acid • Slightly thicker peel
UF C2-5-12 • Red-fleshed • Sweet non-bitter • Matures in Nov • Favorite at fruit shows • Produces primarily fruit somewhat larger than grapefruit
UF 5-1-99-2 (Pummelette) • Avg size similar to GF • Non-bitter, sweet • High ratio – around 16-19 by Christmas • Fewer seeds than most pummelo • Low FC’s • Appears more tolerant of canker
UF 5-1-99-5 • Medium Large size • Thinner Rind • Late Nov, Dec Mat. • Dark Red, uniform sections • Great flavor, slight bitterness • Juicy/uniform fruit • FC content high
End Thank you