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

Author

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  • Sebastiano Seminara

    (Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Stefania Bennici

    (Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • 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
    College of Horticulture and Landscape, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China)

  • 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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Sebastiano Seminara & Stefania Bennici & Mario Di Guardo & Marco Caruso & Alessandra Gentile & Stefano La Malfa & Gaetano Distefano, 2023. "Sweet Orange: Evolution, Characterization, Varieties, and Breeding Perspectives," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-24, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:2:p:264-:d:1043299
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Guohong Albert Wu & Javier Terol & Victoria Ibanez & Antonio López-García & Estela Pérez-Román & Carles Borredá & Concha Domingo & Francisco R. Tadeo & Jose Carbonell-Caballero & Roberto Alonso & Fran, 2018. "Genomics of the origin and evolution of Citrus," Nature, Nature, vol. 554(7692), pages 311-316, February.
    2. Pamela Strazzer & Cornelis E. Spelt & Shuangjiang Li & Mattijs Bliek & Claire T. Federici & Mikeal L. Roose & Ronald Koes & Francesca M. Quattrocchio, 2019. "Hyperacidification of Citrus fruits by a vacuolar proton-pumping P-ATPase complex," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
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