Natsudaidai [C. natsudaidai Hayata].

"Fruit medium to medium-large (grapefruit size), broadly obovate to oblate; sometimes with very short collared neck and apex slightly depressed; moderately seedy. Color yellowish orange. Rind medium-thick; surface coarsely pebbled, sometimes slightly rough; moderately adherent (peels readily). Segments fairly numerous (12); axis large and semi-hollow at maturity. Flavor acid and refreshing. Late in maturity (summer-maturing in most climates). Holds well on the tree and improves in storage.

Tree vigorous and upright-spreading with few stout thorns; leaves large, dark green, and mandarin-like.

The Natsudaidai tree is reported to be s cold resistant than the satsuma mandarin in Japan. Its behavior there and in the coastal regions of southern California indicates a heat requirement for fruit maturity somewhat less than that of the grapefruit and comparable with the so-called Poorman orange and Wheeny grapefruit of New Zealand and Australia, both of which attain acceptable quality in climates too cool for satisfactory maturity of the grapefruit. Nevertheless, even at full maturity the Natsudaidai remains too acid for some palates,

The original seedling tree of this fruit is said to have been found in a garden in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, toward the end of the 17th century and is reported still alive. The value of its late-ripening characteristic was not appreciated until approximately a century later and is reflected in the names most commonly used for it natsu means summer). Other names include natsumikan, natsukan, daidai nikan, and Japanese summer grapefruit or orange.

Natsudaidai is extensively grown in the Japanese coastal regions of mildest winters and s currently second in importance only to the satsuma mandarin. The Statistical Yearbook of the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry reports that the 1961 acreage was approximately 28,000 with a production of about 173,000 tons, accounting for some 15 per cent of the total production of Japanese citrus fruits (see chap, 2, table 2-1, pp. 42-43).

The Natsudaidai exhibits characters of the pummelo or sour orange and the mandarin. In the writer's opinion, the evidence supports the conclusion of Tanaka (1954, p. 91) that the pummelo is involved in its parentage.

Numerous unnamed clones and selections are grown, some of which exhibit minor differences, but only two derivative varieties - Kawano and Tajima - have been named and propagated commercially. The former differs appreciably from the common Natsudaidai only in the fact that the fruit is less acid (and hence sweeter), matures much earlier, and loses quality if held on the tree after maturity. It is said to have originated as a limb sport in an orchard in Oita Prefecture about 1905 and was named and registered in 1950. It is currently recommended for planting in several districts. Tajima is a new and very juicy, late-ripening, high acid variety of much less importance, but considered to be promising."

From: Webber, H.J. and Batchelor, L.D., The Citrus Industry. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1967. (pg. 519)

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