Limonero Messina lemon (CRC 4121)

Citrus limon L. Burm.f.

CRC 4121
PI 654904
VI 661

Source

Received as budwood from Moncada, Valencia, Spain, 2002.

Parentage/origins

Parents unknown.

Rootstocks of accession

Citrus macrophylla

Season of ripeness at Riverside

Considered an early-harvest variety in Autumn.

Notes and observations

From the Citrus Germplasm Collection, IVIA, Received from Luis Navarro. The varietal name is not in accordance with Italian lemon nomenclature, and this selection may be 'Femminello Messina' (name on Acireale list). 'The trees are described as vigorous and with few spines. The fruit is large and thick-skinned, with little neck or apical nipple. Seed number is low (1-2). The pulp is very juicy and acidic. This variety reflowers, with the principal harvest being in summer. It is moderately productive and ships well. It has a certain amount of resistance to Mal secco. This variety appears to have limited production in Spain. See Levante Agricola, 25:94-96, June 1986 and Medina: El Cultivo Moderno del Naranjo, Limonero y Otros Agrios (Barcelona, 1984). ''Messina: poor ever bearing and very early harvest variety (autumn). Vigorous tree with very little small thorns very sensitive to Aceri sheldoni." (Gardiazabal et al, Proc ISCN 2002, pp 171-174).