​Citrus Tree 'Bingo' anyone? 

Article by: Jason "Pepe" June 26, 2018

Today I had the pleasure of speaking with an undisclosed source from Florida Fruit Tree Developers.

I am not disclosing his name or company because he gets way too many calls regarding the topic of new fruit tree varieties from all over the World and is a pretty busy person.

I was grateful to get 10 minutes phone time with him today.

For the purpose of this brief article, let's call my contact John. I learned that a citrus mandarin has been developed that is resistant to the deadly Citrus Greening Disease (HLB) and is being planted by commercial growers. The variety is called 'Bingo' and is a cross between a tangelo and a Valencia orange. The fruit is seedless.

Scientists at the University of Florida participated in the trees development. For now, it is not available to citrus nurseries to wholesale for the residential market. John mentioned that a variety that is resistant and available for wholesale to retail outlets exists. As a matter of fact it has been available for ten years. That variety is 'Sugar Belle'. I never heard of it before and I believe I keep up with this stuff. Go figure!

Sugar Belle is a beautiful fruit with a bright orange, color and bell shaped. The fruit is also super easy to peel. Fruit ripens November to January. The tree is Self fertile and grows best in Zones 8B-10.

The flavor is a mix of sweet Clementine and Minneola. The taste has a rich strong aroma. The sweet-tart fruit may be best described as a mandarin with a tangy punch.

Why is 'Sugar Belle' resistant to HLV?

Research indicates that ‘Sugar Belle’ is high in several volatiles and beneficial compounds known as phenolics. Among other traits, volatile metabolites emit odors, while non-volatile metabolites do not.

The volatiles are what gives the trees the resistance to the Asian Citrus Psyllids that carry HLB citrus greening disease.

It is interesting to me that research conducted years ago in China and in Florida found that guava trees also gave off volatiles. The guava volaties seemed to indicate they repelled psyllids. The research was ultimately found not conclusive.

In my backyard food forest I have guava trees planted within 4-5 feet of my citrus. Seems to make perfect sense it should provide some repellency.

I asked John if 'Bingo' and 'Sugar Belle' are genetically modified and he said no they are not. He did mention that GMO research is ongoing and that in the near future a GMO citrus tree may be released.

John pointed out that it is important to understand these new hybrid trees are not HLB proof. The trees can still become diseased if an infected psyllid lands on the tree to feed. Growers must still use good pest management practices.

Besides pest management and intercropping with guava, growers should provide trees with additional minor elemental sprays and soil drenches. These mineral supplements go a long way in strengthening the trees immune system. Nutritional supplements prolong the life of infected trees.

I will be reaching out to several nurseries in central Florida to see if I can locate the 'Sugar Belle' and plant one. So far the few nurseries that offer it say they are out of stock.