Sweet Orange: Evolution, Characterization, Varieties, and Breeding Perspectives

Sebastiano Seminara, Stefania Bennici, Mario Di Guardo, Marco Caruso, Alessandra Gentile, Stefano La Malfa () and Gaetano Distefano
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Sebastiano Seminara: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, Italy
Stefania Bennici: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, Italy
Mario Di Guardo: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, Italy
Marco Caruso: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), Research Centre for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops, Corso Savoia 190, 95024 Acireale, Italy
Alessandra Gentile: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, Italy
Stefano La Malfa: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, Italy
Gaetano Distefano: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, Italy

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-24

Abstract: Among Citrus species, the sweet orange ( Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) is the most important in terms of production volumes and cultivated areas. Oranges are particularly appreciated for the organoleptic characteristics and the high nutraceutical value of the fruits (thanks especially to their high content of antioxidants). Recent advances in citrus genetic and genomic resources, such as the release of the reference genomes of several sweet orange cultivars, have contributed to (i) understanding the diversification of C. sinensis and its relation with other citrus species, (ii) assessing the molecular mechanisms underlying traits of interest, (iii) identifying and characterizing the candidate genes responsible for important phenotypic traits, and (iv) developing biotechnological methods to incorporate these traits into different citrus genotypes. It has been clarified that all the genetic diversity within the sweet orange species was derived from subsequent mutations starting from a single ancestor and was derived from complex cycles of hybridization and backcrossing between the mandarin ( Citrus reticulata Blanco) and the pummelo ( Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr.). This paper provides an overview of the varietal panorama together with a description of the main driving forces in present and future sweet orange breeding. In fact, for the sweet orange, as well as for other citrus species, the release of novel varieties with improved characteristics is being pursued thanks to the employment of conventional and/or innovative (molecular-based) methods. The state of the art methods together with the innovations in genomics and biotechnological tools leading to the so-called new plant breeding technologies were also reviewed and discussed.

Keywords: Citrus sinensis; biodiversity; fruit quality; clonal selection; NPBTs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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