mandarin ? ‘Hirado Buntan’ pummelo (zygotic), originally
produced for scion improvement, was planted in
some extra space adjacent to somatic hybrid rootstock trial
in a challenging high pH, calcareous soil. One year after
planting, a severe infestation of Diaprepes root weevils
occurred, and nearly all the trees in the rootstock trial were
destroyed, with no rootstocks (including six commercial
control rootstocks) showing adequate tolerance of the pest.
However, the Nova ? HBP somatic hybrid continued to
perform well, showing soil adaptation, and tolerance to the
Diaprepes/Phytophthora complex. Fruit from seed trees of
this somatic hybrid were seedy, though the resulting
seedlings were zygotic. This robust somatic hybrid was
therefore selected as a second primary female parent for the
new tetraploid breeding program