POMELO
MARCH
Marsh Grapefruit is a vigorous, large-growing variety.
This variety originated as a nucellar seedling of Marsh, developed by H. B. Frost at the University of California Citrus Research Center in Riverside from seeds planted in 1916, and it was commercially introduced in 1952.
The fruit is medium-sized, oblate to spherical, with few or no seeds. At maturity, the peel is pale to light yellow, moderately thin, firm, very smooth, and even. The flesh is light beige, tender, very juicy, and has a pleasant flavor, though less intense than some seedy varieties. Marsh grapefruit is notable for its exceptional holding ability on the tree, as well as its excellent storage and shipping qualities.
The tree is vigorous, spreading, large, and highly productive. Due to its high heat requirements, Marsh grapefruit is commercially limited to very warm climates.
OROBLANCO
Oroblanco is a hybrid citrus fruit resulting from the cross between a diploid (2N) acid pummelo and a tetraploid (4N) seedy white grapefruit, developed in 1958 at the University of California, Riverside, by Drs. Cameron and Soost. This vigorous, large tree with a slightly spreading habit produces flattened oblong fruits with a smooth greenish-yellow rind that is thicker than that of typical grapefruits. Its very pale yellow, seedless flesh offers a mild, pleasant, and slightly sweet flavor. Oroblanco ripens from December to March and holds very well on the tree, making it a particularly appreciated variety.
STAR RUBY
The Star Ruby is a grapefruit derived from irradiated seeds of the Hudson variety, developed through the breeding program of R. A. Hensz at Texas A & I University in Weslaco. It reaches maturity from February to June and is generally less vigorous than other grapefruit varieties. However, Star Ruby produces highly attractive fruits with a smooth yellow rind blushed with red, and a deep red, juicy flesh that is almost seedless. With its mid- to late-season maturity and excellent fruit-holding capacity on the tree—despite a slight loss of flesh color as the season progresses—it stands out as one of the most remarkable pigmented grapefruit varieties.
THOMSON
Thompson is a medium-sized grapefruit, oblate to spherical in shape, virtually seedless, with very smooth, light yellow skin. Its flesh is tender and juicy, sometimes showing a slight pink tint, and has a pleasant flavor similar to the Marsh variety. The tree is vigorous, large, and highly productive, and the fruits hold well on the tree while also shipping and storing effectively. This variety originated as a limb sport on a Marsh tree in Oneco, Florida, and was introduced in 1924 by the Royal Palms Nurseries. It was quickly adopted for its quality and seedlessness, before gradually being replaced by more deeply pigmented clones. Thompson remains of horticultural interest for its unique characteristics and its historical role in the development of seedless, pigmented grapefruit varieties.
