| Scientific Name | Citrus reticulata (mandarin group); cultivar ‘Kinnow’ is a mandarin hybrid |
| Hybrid Parentage | ‘King’ mandarin (Citrus nobilis) × ‘Willowleaf’ mandarin (Citrus × deliciosa) |
| Breeding / Development | Developed at University of California Citrus Experiment Station; released for commercial cultivation in 1935 (H. B. Frost). Seedless/low‑seeded strains developed later via mutation breeding/selection/irradiation programs. |
| Variety Type | Fresh fruit and juice mandarin; seedless/low‑seeded variant aimed at better table‑fruit acceptance |
| Plant Type | Evergreen citrus tree |
| Growth Habit | Perennial; profuse spring bloom typical of mandarins; fruit set is naturally low relative to flower number |
| Bearing Age | Commonly begins fruiting about 2–3 years after planting (varies by rootstock and management) |
| Fruit Development Period | Citrus fruits often take ~7–14 months from flowering to maturity; mandarins commonly ~6–8 months (varies by climate) |
| Main Harvest Season | Kinnow typically matures in winter; commonly harvested mid‑January to mid‑February in Punjab for best quality; in many markets harvest is Dec–Mar |
| Fruit Traits | Medium mandarin with easy‑peel rind and high juice content; good flavor and color at maturity |
| Seedless / Low‑Seeded Note | Low‑seeded and sparse‑seeded mutants/clones have been developed using mutation breeding and budwood irradiation; these reduce seed number compared with standard Kinnow |
| Main Uses | Fresh consumption, juice extraction, food processing (concentrate, beverages), and export markets |
