Hort Innovation announces new citrus varieties assessment project

The assessment is part of a $987,000 project investigating new varieties to please both growers and consumers.

Hort Innovation's citrus levy will fund the research which includes an independent assessment of the horticultural performance of new citrus varieties under Australian conditions.

It will also test citrus varieties for "trueness-to-type".

The assessments will take place in Dareton in New South Wales, as well as in Western Australia.

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Citrus Australia chair Richard Byllaardt said the research was an important investment in the future of the Australian Citrus industry.

"Cultivating citrus varieties that are suited to Australian conditions ensures our growers are getting the most out of the trees they've planted," Mr Byllaardt said

"With the right varieties, we have the potential to both reduce input costs and maximise yields.

"In turn this means better returns for growers, better products for consumers, and a more resilient citrus industry overall."

Hort Innovation chief executive officer Brett Fifield said it means growers will be able to identify new varieties that might suit their production regions.

"It will also help growers be aware of key consumer and production traits of the varieties," Mr Fifield said.

"As part of the assessments we're looking at fruit quality, tree yield and fruit size and sweetness, as well as assessing any issues producers might need to consider when growing the trees."

The new project is part of a suite of investments for the Australian citrus industry focused on variety and rootstock evaluation and breeding, complementing biosecurity-related projects to protect the citrus production base in Australia.

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