Citrus Variety Collection

The UCR Citrus Variety Collection, initiated in 1910 for the UC Citrus Experiment Station, is now one of the most extensive living collections of citrus diversity globally, encompassing approximately 4500 trees representing more than 1,000 accessions of citrus and citrus relatives. The collection preserves and sustains biodiversity of citrus and citrus relatives and is used widely for research and to extend knowledge on Citrus and other genera in the Aurantiodeae. As a resource for the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, the collection is utilized by a number of research and extension faculties at UCR from multiple departments. Research funding to T. Kahn and M. Roose in 2011-2012 from the California Citrus Research Board and USDA Specific Cooperative Agreements for projects that utilize the collection generated over $485,000. In addition the collection serves as the field planting for the USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Citrus and Dates that is situated adjacent to the collection. These utilize the collection to fulfill their missions and as a source of budwood, seed and pollen. Each year the collection is used as a resource for outreach through field days such as the UCR Citrus Day. Last January, numerous tours for citrus growers, industry representatives, and governmental agencies such as 100 or so CDFA inspectors visited to learn about citrus relative host plants for Asian Citrus Psyllid, a new vector of the deadly citrus disease, Huanglongbing. Members of the public with groups such as the CA Rare Fruit Society, the UC Master Gardener program and UCR students as part of class tours (BPSC 011, BPSC021, BPSC 150) also visit the collection each year. The Citrus Variety Collection currently has two UCR Foundation endowed funds (Citrus Variety Collection Endowed Funds and Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection Endowed Fund) with a collective value of approximately $650,000.

Visit the Citrus Variety Collection