Thomson navel orange (CRC 969)

Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck

CRC 969

PI 539586

Photos by David Karp and Toni Siebert, 1/28/2010, CVC. Photo rights.  

Source: Received as budwood from USDA #2--thru A.D. Shamel, Riverside, Calif., 1916.

Parentage/origins: Thomson and T.I. or Thomson Improved navel orange selections. Thomson was one of the bud sport selections made from Washington navel on the property of A. C. Thomson in Duarte, Ca, about 1891.  Thomson was planted extensively for years because the fruit matured approximately two weeks earlier than the Washington navel orange fruit. 

Rootstocks of accession: Carrizo citrange, C-35 citrange

Season of ripeness at Riverside: November to January

Notes and observations:

The fruit is a bit more elongated in shape and has thinner and smoother rind than the Washington navel. The juice vesicles are ricier in texture and less distinct. Although Thomson fruit mature earlier than Washington navel fruit, they do not hang well on the tree and are inferior to the Washington navel orange in all other respects. There are two Thomson selections available through the CCPP, Thomson Sheldon (VI 425) and Thomson Zimmerman (VI 424).

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

"Fruit medium-large, globose to slightly obovate or ellipsoid; occasionally with collar and commonly with two or three relatively deep and long radial basal furrows; apex usually protruded or broadly nippled or with large open navel; seedless. Less well-colored than Washington.  Rind medium-thin and surface smooth and glossy though finely pitted.  Flesh well-colored with firm texture; medium juice content; flavor good. Holds on the tree poorly with rapid loss in quality.  Very early in maturity (10 days or more in advance of Washington).
      Tree less vigorous and more compact than Washington and commonly semi-dwarfed; also less cold- and heat-resistant. Clone unstable, very likely chimeric in constitution, and exhibits tendency toward reversion.
      The Thomson variety originated as a limb sport of Washington in Duarte, California, and was named and introduced by the owner, A. C. Thomson, about 1891. Because of the earliness and attractive appearance of the fruit, it was extensively planted for some years and introduced to other navel orange-producing countries such as Algeria, Morocco, Chile, and Australia. Within a few years, however, its faults became so evident that planting was discontinued and most of the California acreage was converted or removed. So far as can be determined, this has been its history elsewhere, with the possible exception of Chile. Except for earliness of maturity, it is inferior to the parent variety in all respects.
      Dungan Thomson is the only selection of Thomson currently propagated in California. The tree or trees employed are in an old and outstanding orchard of this variety at Exeter, the present owner of which is Jack Dungan of that locality. Dungan Thomson has come into prominence recently because of renewed interest in the planting of very early maturing varieties in the San Joaquin Valley."

Availability: Not commercially available in California.

USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network page for Thomson navel orange (CRC 969)