Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
University of California
Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Tango mandarins are soon to appear in a produce aisle near you

The first commercial crop of an exceptional new mandarin variety created by UC Riverside scientists will be harvested this month.

The fruit, called Tango, is the result of a mutation induced by irradiating budwood of W. Murcott mandarin. The process mimics nature’s manner of improving fruit. Radiation from the sun or natural errors during cell division can cause a single branch or fruit to mutate and develop unique characteristics, which scientists call a “sport.” People have been reproducing favorable sports for generations. In fact, all navel oranges are sports – natural mutations of oranges with seeds or other navel oranges.

W. Murcott mandarins, originally from Morocco, are favored for their deep orange color, easy-peel rind and tangy-sweet flavor. However, when planted within five miles of other seed-bearing citrus – such as Clementine mandarins, lemons or grapefruit – they can be cross-pollinated by bees and become seedy. The Tango maintains the best W. Murcott traits, but because it produces very little viable pollen, it is virtually seedless wherever it is grown.

“This is the most promising mandarin the university has ever produced,” said UC Riverside genetics professor Mikeal Roose.

The Tango mandarin was patented, and registered trees were established by the UC Citrus Clonal Protection Program. Distribution of budwood to citrus nurseries began in June 2006 and was limited exclusively to California growers for one year. Tango was introduced into Florida in 2007 and the trees were available internationally under exclusive licenses in 2009. Tango trees should soon be available to home gardeners through retail nurseries.

In all, 1.6 million Tango trees were sold in California through March 2010.

Tango is not a trademarked name, so the new seedless mandarin will probably be sold under existing grower brand names like Cuties and Delites. Before Christmas, fruit marketed as Cuties and Delites are early ripening Clementine mandarins. Most W. Murcotts and now Tangos will be sold as Cuties and Delites when they ripen in late January, but some Tangos will show up in supermarkets and farmer’s markets under the Tango name.

The Tango was made possible by a UC and citrus industry partnership going back nearly 15 years. Roose and staff research associate Tim Williams began field testing the fruit in 2001. The research and evaluation program was supported by the Citrus Research Board.

“What’s exciting is the parent variety of the Tango is a good piece of fruit,” said Ted Batkin, director of the Citrus Research Board. “It is without a doubt the most widely planted variety that we have released in the past 25 years.”

W. Murcott mandarin (left) and Tango (right).
W. Murcott mandarin (left) and Tango (right).

Posted on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 8:04 AM
Tags: citrus (34), Mandarins (4), Mikeal Roose (5)

Comments:

1.
Interesting article. Tango looks very good. Can't wait to try how good they are.  
 
Lena

Posted by Lena on March 30, 2011 at 3:04 PM

2.
HiJeneatte  
My name is George Walintukan, I currently live in Orange County, CA,I own a 30 acres farm land in Half Moon Bay, (San Francisco coastal town) and I plan to grows olive grove on the elevated rawland. (see my website: bayolive.com). I wonder if you have Murcott Mandarin seedless species to share, try to cultivate it together with my olive trees, the climate zone 9 area.  
please advice  
Best Regards  
George Walintukan  
Bay Olive Farm  
Half Moon Bay

Posted by GEORGE WALINTUKAN (bayolive.com) on October 30, 2013 at 9:03 AM

3.
Would you please tell me where can I buy some tango mandarins? In Florida?...thank you

Posted by Hernando gutierrez on November 11, 2013 at 6:52 PM

4.
I live in Orange County and would like to know about any classes, lectures or activities in my area.

Posted by Beverly Boyd on November 16, 2013 at 10:57 AM

5.
Harris Nursery in Lithia, FL is selling Tango trees. Just bought one this past weekend.

Posted by Kim Perkins on June 4, 2014 at 1:25 PM

6.
Dear sir  
Thank you for getting good info .Please what the difference between w.murcott and gold nugget variety  
Thanks

Posted by mahmoud diab on April 29, 2015 at 12:22 PM

7.
ate one today it was so good. -2021

Posted by marie bordelon on March 19, 2021 at 6:00 PM

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