"This is apparently the same as VI 335 which was received into CCPP independently in 1972. Fruit was compared in Jan. 1987 and appeared to be identical. VI spec sheet says this accession traces back to an open pollinated seedling from a large old Nagami tree at UCLA. Pollen parent unknown". -- EM Nauer (05/1987) "Could have potential as an ornamental?" EM Nauer (03/28/1988)
"Talked to John Carpenter on phone. He says USDCS 61-298 is Nagami seedling grown from Florida. Florida (Orlando) No. 2-24-6, F159".-- EM Nauer (01/1989)
"This is scheduled for release to the industry for trial as an normental in 9/89. It needs a name. M. Roose suggests Indio mandarinquat; and, since no better names have come forth, that's what we will probably call it". EM Nauer (1989)
"A kumquat hybrid received from the US Date and Citrus Station several years ago is being registered for budwood release in 1989. The seed which produced this hybrid came from a Nagami tree; the pollen parent is not known but is suspected to be Dancy mandarin. This cultivar produces profuse numbers of a very attractive, necked fruit which is light to medium orange colored. the shape of a Minneola tangelo, and about three times the size of Nagami kumquat fruits. It is probably too tart for most palates, but seems somewhat less tart than its Nagami parent." -- Nauer et al (1988)
"The kumquat hybrid described in 1988 as being an attractive ornamental was released last September as Indio mandarinquat". -- Nauer et al (1990)
"Dr David Gumpf, CCPP (personal communication) relates the history as follows: The CCPP obtained budwood of this cultivar from the late Dr John Carpenter, United States Date and Citrus Station, Indio, Calif in 1972. The records the CCPP received from the USDA are worded in such a manner as to indicate the Indio mandarinquat was a designed cross. The seed parent was a large old Nagami kumquat located on the University of California at Los Angeles campus; CCPP records suggest that the Nagami was produced from seed from Florida. The USDA records accompanying the budwood of the Indio mandarinquat have been interpreted by the CCPP to imply that Dancy tangerine was the pollen parent. The date this cross occurred is not known." -- Loeblich (1994)
Ed must have been having a bad day in 05/1987. The "VI Spec sheet" states nothing about any 'Nagami' tree at UCLA but refers to the USDCS accession 61-298 as per the annotation of 01/1988. There is no evidence on file at CCPP indicating a UCLA origin for 'Indio mandarinquat'. There is also no mention of 'Nagami' in materials received at USDCS from UCLA. Although it is possible that "mistakes were made", at this time it must be concluded that the origin of 'Indio manadrinquat' was in fact USDCS from materials received from Florida. The identification of 'Dancy' as the pollen parent is also not supported at this time. (RR Krueger, 02-18-2009)
Information on Indio mandarinquat is available from the University of California, Riverside Citrus Variety Collection and Citrus Clonal Protection Program.