Oroblanco grapefruit hybrid

Citrus paradisi Macfadyen

CRC 3602

PI 539202

VI 309

Photos by Toni Siebert and David Karp, CVC, 5/22/2008. Photo rights. C-35, 20 year old tree.

Source: Received as budwood from the University of California, Riverside, 1968.

Parentage/origins: Oroblanco is a hybrid of 2N acidless pummelo and 4N seedy white grapefruit developed at the University of California, Riverside by Drs. Cameron and Soost.  The cross was made in 1958 and the Oroblanco selection was released in 1980. Patent held by the University of California.

Rootstocks of accession: Carrizo citrange, C-35 citrange

Season of ripeness at Riverside: Early December to March

Season of ripeness at Lindcove: Late November through February

Notes and observations:

12/1987, EMN: Patent on this cultivar is held by U.C. and budwood is being released from the Lindcove foundation block.

OJB: Oroblanco trees grow vigorously to a large size with a somewhat spreading form.  The fruit has a smooth greenish-yellow rind at maturity.  Oroblanco fruits are oblate in form with a flattened base that has a pronounced indentation.  The rind is thicker than the typical grapefruit and both the rind and membranes exhibit the bitterness characteristic of Oroblanco’s pummelo parentage.  The flesh is very pale yellow and seedless.  The flavor is mild and sweet.  Oroblanco is early in its maturity and holds very well on the tree.

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

USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network page for Oroblanco grapefruit hybrid

CVC Fruit Quality Data for Oroblanco grapefruit hybrid  

Bibliography:

"California Agriculture", Vol. 34, Nos. 11& 12, pp 16-17, Nov-Dec. 1980.

Soost, R.K. and J.W. Cameron. 1980. 'Oroblanco', a triploid pummelo-grapefruit hybrid. HortScience 15:667-669.