From the Archives: Pineapple Oranges

Around 1876, early settlers started citrus groves by budding wild sour orange trees that originated from the shore of Orange Lake in Marion County. Some of these seedlings were grown by James B. Owens and later taken and propagated by Mr. Putnam Bishop. He named this new variety the Hickory Orange. As the trees continued to develop, it was discovered that they created a faint pineapple smell. This led the variety to be named Pineapple instead.

In 1967, Senator W. J. Crosby got inducted into the Citrus Hall of Fame due to his association with the pineapple orange. Due to its unique taste and stunning appearance, the pineapple orange is regarded as one of Florida's best mid-season varieties. Today, there are several varieties of the Pineapple orange being grown in Florida; however, the original continues to be the most popular variety.

In a previous blog, we discussed the difference between a chimera and a hybrid. A hybrid is any organism that is produced by combining genes from two different species. In this case, grafting was used to combine the traits of two different plants. Hybrids isolate desired characteristics in two different species to create an entirely new species that is superior to its parents. A new taste was acquired, and different characteristics can be isolated such as better yields, uniformity, and disease resistance. This process helps growers to better fruits overall.

Written by Tanzy Zviitwah, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Spring 2024

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Sources:

Mack, Thomas B. Citrifacts II: A Portion of Florida Citrus History. Bartow, Florida: Associated Publications Corporation, 1998.

From the Archives: FSC Citrus Institute Chimeras

In History of the Citrus Institute, Professor Thomas B. Mack talks about how the citrus department was always trying to expand their audience past citrus majors and hit all sectors of campus life while engaging all students in one way or another. In the 1960s to 1980s, the citrus department created a “Plant of the Day” display that was placed between the citrus and physics wings. Chimeras were one of the most popular sites on display because of their humorous appearance. The citrus department created this display as an attempt to reach out and connect to the larger student body that were not involved with the citrus department.

A chimera is a mutant that results from an organism that has cells where two different genes are present causing them to both be expressed in the cell. This can be seen in a variety of organisms; for example, a rose can be half red and half white because it has both genes that are coding for the color white and for the color red being expressed.

A chimera is also different from a hybrid because of how the cells are oriented. A hybrid is an organism that has genes from two different species coexisting within one cell while a chimera has genes from two different species existing in separate cells. This means the tissue, the body of the cells, in a chimera are made from genes of two different organisms.

A specific chimera collected in the citrus department had an usually large section making it resemble a cantaloupe. As an April Fool’s prank, the department decided to name it the Orange-A-Loupe and convinced non-citrus majors they had created a cross between an orange and a cantaloupe, an impossible feat. Along with the Orange-A-Loupe, there were several other humorous chimeras placed on display for all of campus to see. 

 

Written by Tanzy Zviitwah, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Fall 2023

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Source: 

Mack, Thomas B. History of the Citrus Institute, Florida Southern College, 1947-1993. Lakeland, Florida: Florida Southern College, 1993.