Breadcrumb

Melogold grapefruit hybrid

Citrus paradisi Macfadyen

CRC 3764
PI 539203
VI 323


Source

Received as budwood from the University of California, Riverside, 1975.


Parentage/origins

Melogold is a triploid hybrid of Acidless pummelo and a 4N seedy Marsh grapefruit.  It was developed at the University of California, Riverside by Drs. Cameron and Soost.  It is a sibling of Oroblanco grapefruit hybrid and was released in 1986.  Mellow flavor (low acid) = Melo, gold for the deeper color of the rind than Oroblanco, hence Melogold. Patent on this cultivar is held by the University of California.


Rootstocks of accession

Carrizo citrange, C-35 citrange, Troyer citrange


Season of ripeness at Riverside

Early December to March


Season of ripeness at Lindcove

Early November through February


Notes and observations

12/21/1984, RKS: "In 1958, an essentially acidless pummelo, CRC 2240, which had been shown to impart low acidity to its progenies, was crossed as seed parent with a seedy, white, tetraploid grapefruit. The small population from this cross consisted of 1 tetraploid and 6 triploids, which were field planted in 1962. Two of the triploids had particularly favorable characteristics and were propagated for further testing. One of these was released in 1980 as 'Oroblanco'. The second is was released as Melogold. The general characteristics of the fruit resemble those of white-fleshed grapefruit cultivars, but are more pummelo-like than 'Oroblanco'. Fruit size is much larger than 'Marsh' grapefruit and 'Oroblanco' at all test locations. Weight at Riverside from 1967 through 1975, averaged 470 grams for 'Melogold', 360 grams for 'Oroblanco', and 280 grams for 'Marsh'. Shape is comparable to 'Marsh' and 'Oroblanco' with a slight tendency to obconate fruit. Exterior peel color is slower to develop than in 'Marsh' grapefruit, but late in the season is comparable. Exterior peel texture is smooth to slightly pebbled. Average peel thickness is slightly greater than 'Marsh', but as a percentage of fruit diameter is equal to 'Marsh' and thinner than 'Oroblanco'; interior color and texture are the same as 'Oroblanco'. As with 'Oroblanco' the central core hollow is greater than 'Marsh' at maturity. The flesh is tender and juicy, separating well from the segment membranes. Percent juice has been equal to 'Marsh' and slightly higher than 'Oroblanco'. 'Melogold' may have a slight bitterness, particularly early and late in the harvest season. In taste tests, 'Melogold' has always been preferred by a wide margin over 'Marsh', but usually was a very close second to 'Oroblanco'. At Riverside, solids have consistently been slightly lower than 'Oroblanco', but at Lindcove they have sometimes been slightly higher. Acidity at Riverside has also been consistantly slightly lower than 'Oroblano', but has fluctuated at Lindcove. As with 'Oroblanco', acidity is much lower than 'Marsh' at all sampling dates through the season at all test locations. The low acidity with moderate solids produces a ratio that is much higher than 'Marsh' at all sampling dates. Fruit from Coachella Valley and South Coast Field Station also have acidity and moderate solids even early in the season. However, fruit from Coachella Valley have been rather insipid, and fruit from South Coast Field Station generally have been slightly bitter and lacking in flavor. As with 'Oroblanco', 'Melogold' appears to be best adapted to the inland citrus areas of California. At Lindcove, the season of use is from early November to February, just slightly earlier than 'Oroblanco'. At Riverside, maturity is from early December into March. As with grapefruit, 'Melogold' can be utilized as a breakfast or salad fruit, but the flavor will be unique.

10/1988, EMN: My opinion, for what it might be worth, regarding Oroblanco vs Melogold, is this: For maximum returns as a cash crop, plant your acreage to Melogold; but save one space near your back door for a tree of Oroblanco for your own use.

OJB: Melogold trees grow vigorously to a large size with a somewhat spreading form.  Melogold fruits are oblate in form with a slightly flattened base.  The rind is smooth and medium to dark yellow at maturity and thinner than Oroblanco for a similarly-sized fruit.  The large fruits typically average one pound in weight.  The flesh is pale yellow in color, seedless, tender, and juicy.  The flavor is mild, sweet and reminiscent more of pummelo than of grapefruit.  Melogold is early in its maturity and holds well on the tree.


Availability

Commercially available in California through the Citrus Clonal Protection ProgramClick here to order budwood.

 

USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network page for Melogold grapefruit hybrid


Bibliography

California Agriculture, Vol. 40, Nos. 1 & 2, pp 30-31, Jan-Feb. 1986.


CVC Fruit Quality Data for Melogold grapefruit hybrid

(Old format)

CULTIVAR SAMPLE LOCATION DATE  NUMBER OF FRUIT PER SAMPLE TOTAL LENGTH PER SAMPLE (cm) TOTAL WIDTH PER SAMPLE (cm) LENGTH /WIDTH RATIO TOTAL WT PER SAMPLE (grams) MEAN WEIGHT PER FRUIT (grams) EXTERNAL COLOR BASED ON COLOR CHART TEXTURE BASED ON CHART TOTAL RIND THICKNESS PER SAMPLE (mm) TOTAL SEEDS PER SAMPLE INTERIOR COLOR DESCRIPTION TOTAL JUICE WT. PER SAMPLE (grams) % JUICE TSS (TOTAL SOLUBLE SOLIDS) % ACID (BASED ON CITRIC ACID) RATIO (TSS / % ACID) 
MELOGOLD Riverside 10/1/1996 10 93.2 104.4 0.9 4481.2 448.1 4.5 1.3 94.0 43.0 LT. YELLOW 1703.1 38.0 10.9 0.7 15.6
MELOGOLD Riverside 10/1/1996 10 91.0 105.1 0.9 4390.6 439.1 4.5 1.3 89.0 41.0 LT. YELLOW 1691.0 38.5 11.5 0.8 15.2
MELOGOLD Lindcove 10/2/1996 10 103.2 121.0 0.9 5920.7 592.1 4.5 1.5 112.0 7.0 LT. YELLOW 2420.8 40.9 10.3 0.6 16.2
MELOGOLD Lindcove 10/2/1996 10 108.4 123.0 0.9 6713.5 671.4 4.5 1.5 100.0 23.0 LT. YELLOW 2604.1 38.8 11.0 1.0 10.5
MELOGOLD Lindcove 10/2/1996 10 103.2 121.0 0.9 5920.7 592.1 4.5 1.5 112.0 7.0 LT. YELLOW 2420.8 40.9 10.3 0.6 16.2
MELOGOLD Lindcove 10/2/1996 10 108.4 123.0 0.9 6713.5 671.4 4.5 1.5 100.0 23.0 LT. YELLOW 2604.1 38.8 11.0 1.0 10.5
MELOGOLD Lindcove 10/16/1996 10 107.8 127.0 0.8 6937.6 693.8 4.5 1.5 121.0 11.0 YELLOW 2478.0 35.7 9.9 0.6 16.8
MELOGOLD Lindcove 10/16/1996 10 109.2 125.3 0.9 6856.8 685.7 4.5 1.5 102.0 20.0 YELLOW 2272.6 33.1 11.8 0.9 12.7
MELOGOLD Riverside 10/16/1996 10 99.1 108.9 0.9 5177.4 517.7 4.5 1.5 110.0 21.0 LT. YELLOW 2395.9 46.3 10.9 0.6 18.4
MELOGOLD Riverside 10/16/1996 10 92.5 106.4 0.9 4588.6 458.9 4.5 1.5 105.0 23.0 LT. YELLOW 1978.7 43.1 11.5 0.6 17.9
MELOGOLD Lindcove 11/6/1996 10 99.7 118.5 0.8 5799.3 579.9 4.5 1.5 111.0 15.0 YELLOW 2482.2 42.8 10.2 0.7 14.0
MELOGOLD Lindcove 11/6/1996 10 115.5 133.8 0.9 7992.8 799.3 4.7 1.5 137.0 4.0 YELLOW 3097.3 38.8 12.4 1.0 12.1
MELOGOLD Riverside 11/6/1996 10 102.7 117.6 0.9 6066.4 606.6 5.5 1.5 98.0 23.0 LT. YELLOW 2999.3 49.4 10.4 0.6 16.9
MELOGOLD Riverside 11/6/1996 10 95.9 112.3 0.9 5472.5 547.3 5.7 1.5 89.0 36.0 LT. YELLOW 2554.6 46.7 10.1 0.6 17.1
MELOGOLD Riverside 10/4/1997 10 103.4 110.6 0.9 5257.8 525.8 4.5 1.5 101.0 25.0 LT. YELLOW 2317.1 44.1 9.7 0.5 19.7
MELOGOLD Riverside 10/4/1997 10 102.0 110.5 0.9 5317.2 531.7 4.5 1.5 102.0 25.0 LT. YELLOW 2198.4 41.3 10.6 0.6 18.2
MELOGOLD Lindcove 10/10/1997 10 95.0 115.0 0.8 5603.4 560.3 5.0 1.0 105.0 17.0 LT. YELLOW 2502.9 44.7 10.4 0.6 18.5
MELOGOLD Lindcove 10/13/1997 10 109.8 123.0 0.9 6937.9 693.8 5.0 1.0 112.0 15.0 LT. YELLOW 2643.1 38.1 8.9 0.8 10.9
MELOGOLD Irvine 10/13/1997 10 77.3 94.8 0.8 3144.7 314.5 4.5 1.0 111.0 26.0 V. LT. YEL. 820.1 26.1 15.8 1.0 16.3
MELOGOLD Lindcove 10/20/1997 10 94.0 114.5 0.8 5731.2 573.1 4.7 1.5 80.0 23.0 LT. YELLOW 2697.8 47.1 10.4 0.7 15.7
MELOGOLD Lindcove 10/20/1997 8 91.6 106.2 0.9 6574.0 821.8 5.0 1.5 96.0 26.0 LT. YELLOW 2795.1 42.5 9.5 0.8 12.2
MELOGOLD Riverside 10/20/1997 10 107.5 119.9 0.9 6773.3 677.3 5.0 1.5 83.0 33.0 LT. YELLOW 3025.3 44.7 10.2 0.7 15.4
MELOGOLD Riverside 10/20/1997 10 100.0 110.1 0.9 5689.3 568.9 4.5 1.5 80.0 17.0 LT. YELLOW 2478.0 43.6 10.9 0.7 15.5
MELOGOLD Irvine 10/20/1997 9 64.6 81.4 0.8 2568.9 285.4 4.2 2.0 83.0 32.0 LT. YELLOW 640.8 24.9 15.6 1.1 14.1
MELOGOLD Riverside 11/3/1997 10 111.2 124.6 0.9 7180.0 718.0 6.0 2.0 98.0 26.0 LT. YELLOW 3168.8 44.1 10.3 0.6 16.1
MELOGOLD Riverside 11/3/1997 10 106.9 114.6 0.9 5994.1 599.4 6.0 1.5 88.0 19.0 LT. YELLOW 2644.3 44.1 11.0 0.7 16.1
MELOGOLD Lindcove 11/6/1997 10 98.3 124.5 0.8 7051.7 705.2 5.0 1.0 82.0 3.0 LT. YELLOW 3378.1 47.9 10.6 0.7 15.5
MELOGOLD Lindcove 9/28/1998 10 104.3 124.1 0.8 6067.6 606.8 4.1 2.0 127.0 28.0 PALE YEL. 2065.1 34.0 8.2 1.0 8.5
MELOGOLD Riverside 10/1/1998 10 83.2 97.8 0.9 3419.4 341.9 5.0 2.2 94.0 41.0 MED. YEL. 1133.1 33.1 10.5 0.7 16.1
MELOGOLD Riverside 10/1/1998 10 76.7 94.2 0.8 3028.0 302.8 5.0 2.0 83.0 59.0 MED. YEL. 1044.4 34.5 11.1 0.6 18.8
MELOGOLD Irvine 10/1/1998 10 86.7 105.6 0.8 4339.1 433.9 4.0 2.0 104.0 14.0 MED. YEL. 1527.9 35.2 9.1 0.9 9.8
MELOGOLD Irvine 10/1/1998 10 86.0 109.4 0.8 4633.4 463.3 4.0 2.5 89.0 12.0 MED. YEL. 1660.6 35.8 8.7 1.0 8.4
MELOGOLD Irvine 10/1/1998 5 42.3 54.2 0.8 2226.6 445.3 4.0 2.0 51.0 14.0 MED. YEL. 798.9 35.9 8.8 0.8 10.7
MELOGOLD Lindcove 10/12/1998 10 106.5 122.1 0.9 6494.2 649.4 4.7 2.5 126.0 31.0 PALE YEL. 2331.5 35.9 8.0 1.0 7.8
MELOGOLD Riverside 10/15/1998 10 79.8 95.0 0.8 3236.9 323.7 4.1 2.0 91.0 17.0 PALE YEL. 1254.8 38.8 10.8 0.7 16.6
MELOGOLD Riverside 10/15/1998 10 79.1 96.3 0.8 3267.9 326.8 4.0 2.3 89.0 32.0 PALE YEL. 1182.0 36.2 11.2 0.6 19.7
MELOGOLD Irvine 10/15/1998 10 92.3 112.4 0.8 4930.5 493.1 4.5 2.5 114.0 20.0 PALE MED. YEL. 1792.8 36.4 9.7 0.9 10.7
MELOGOLD Irvine 10/15/1998 10 95.3 110.3 0.9 5461.1 546.1 4.5 2.5 112.0 10.0 MED. YEL 1817.0 33.3 8.9 1.0 9.0
MELOGOLD Irvine 10/15/1998 10 88.2 107.5 0.8 4321.4 432.1 4.3 2.5 88.0 39.0 PALE YELLOW 1550.6 35.9 9.0 0.8 10.9
MELOGOLD Coachella 10/21/1998 10 80.9 89.2 0.9 2905.1 290.5 4.5 3.0 69.0 22.0 LT.-MED. PINK 1313.0 45.2 8.5 1.1 7.5
MELOGOLD Lindcove 11/2/1998 10 113.8 133.3 0.9 7965.0 796.5 4.7 2.0 123.0 33.0 PALE YEL. 3036.9 38.1 8.4 1.0 8.4
MELOGOLD Riverside 11/6/1998 10 90.3 105.8 0.9 4259.3 425.9 5.1 2.3 87.0 41.0 LT. YEL. 1577.9 37.0 9.4 0.6 15.2
MELOGOLD Riverside 11/6/1998 10 84.8 106.2 0.8 4108.7 410.9 5.1 2.3 89.6 51.0 LT. YEL. 1625.3 39.6 11.1 0.7 16.2
MELOGOLD Irvine 11/6/1998 5 46.9 57.5 0.8 2708.0 541.6 4.8 2.0 47.0 5.0 PALE YEL. 1070.8 39.5 9.4 0.8 11.2
MELOGOLD Irvine 11/6/1998 5 50.4 62.7 0.8 3494.0 698.8 4.8 2.0 52.0 6.0 PALE YEL. 1468.2 42.0 8.2 0.9 9.4

 

crc3764_001
C-35, 20 year old trees.
crc3764_002
crc3764_003
crc3764_004
Photos by Toni Siebert and David Karp, CVC, 5/22/2008.
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