A Chilean plant variety rights company has received a good deal of interest domestically and worldwide for the early clementine variety 'Andes1 cv', which is marketed as the 'Clemenluz'.

Photo: A.N.A/Vicente Fernandez Rioja

Andes New Varieties Association (A.N.A.) general manager Luis Fernández told www.freshfruitportal.com the cultivar was discovered on the property of the Baldrich family in Maria Pinto in the late 90s, and was officially recognized as a unique variety in 2002.

"It arose from a spontaneous mutation of a clementine branch of the variety clemenule," said Fernández, whose group is the exclusive licensor for the fruit both at home and abroad.

He said the Clemenluz has similar growth habits to the parent variety, with an oblate shape, smooth skin and it without seeds, while it could easily reach the sizes necessary for exports.

"The peculiarity is that it ripens three weeks before clemenules," he said, adding the fruit also demonstrated good levels of sugar and acidity.

"It is not superior or inferior in eating quality to the mother variety. It is a variety that a characteristic of having a greater ability than the original variety to take color and reacting to the process of degreening.

He highlighted the fruit had a key benefit in Chile's central zone, where picking three weeks early can help avoid the consequences of rains during harvest.

"Anticipation of the date also means a better price," he said, also adding that sizing could influence its value.

"Today size is fundamental in the price."

He said the variety had been planted in Chile for a few years and had generated enthusiasm, while it had also been taken to South Africa where Stargrow represented the variety, licensing it to three growers and traders who had a program to plant 300 hectares.

"They already have more or less a third of the surface area established," he pointed out.

The variety is also under evaluation in Morocco with 15 hectares planted and plans for expansion. The cultivar was also recently taken to Egypt.

In terms of Europe, the variety has received attention in Valencia where varietal development group AVASA has exploitation rights and has announced the cultivar's introduction to the market.

"They have expressed that they are convinced it is the early clementine variety they have to develop," the executive said.

He added talks were also underway in Argentina, Uruguay and the U.S.

www.freshfruitportal.com