Navelate navel orange

Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck

CRC 4022

PI 600652

VI 548

Photos by Toni Siebert, CVC. Photo rights.  

Source: Received as budwood from Spain, date unknown.

Parentage/origins: Navelate (VI 548) is a selection discovered in 1948 in the Castellon Province of Spain as a limb spot on a Washington navel orange tree.  This selection was released for propagation in Spain in 1957 and imported into California in 1991.  As a recent import into California, it has not been evaluated extensively yet.

Rootstocks of accession: Carrizo citrange, C-35 citrange

Season of ripeness at Riverside: November to January

Notes and observations:

Navelate trees are reported to be vigorous and slightly larger than Washington navel orange trees.  The fruit are somewhat smaller than Washington navel fruit with a smaller and often concealed navel structure.  The rind of Navelate has a similar texture to that of Washington navel but the rind is thinner and more difficult to peel.  Navelate fruit are also reported to hang on the tree for four months or more without appreciable loss of quality.

Description from The Citrus Industry Vol. 1 (1967):

"Fruit similar to Washington but somewhat paler in color; navel less prominent and more commonly closed; rind thinner and more leathery; flesh less firm and juicier; flavor less sprightly.  Matures two to three weeks later than Washington and holds on tree considerably better and later without loss of quality.
      Tree somewhat more vigorous and productive.
      According to Gonzalez-Sicilia, this Spanish variety originated as a limb sport in a Washington navel orchard planted in 1930 in the Vinaroz district of Castellón de la Plana Province.  It was discovered in 1948 by D. Adrian Gil, nurseryman of Alcanar, Taragona Province, who propagated it in 1952 and released it in 1957.  In view of its many desirable features, Navelate is considered to be highly promising.  Cliapot, however, questions its value and reports that in Morocco the fruit is less juicy than Washington and is not signficantly later in maturity. "

Availability: Commercially available in California through the Citrus Clonal Protection Program.

USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network page for Navelate navel orange