World of CitrusPonkan Mandarin
The first known introduction of Ponkan into the United States occurred in approximately 1892 or 1893, when an American medical missionary in China sent fruit to J. C. Barrington of McMeekin, Florida. Barrington raised seedlings from the fruit, one of which was later identified as Ponkan.
Received Ponkan fruit from China and raised the Florida seedlings associated with the first known U.S. introduction.
Sources: [1]
The Ponkan accession now maintained as CRC 3849 was produced at Riverside in 1961 from seed of the earlier Ponkan accession CRC 2593. Six seedling budlines were later evaluated and appeared normal for Ponkan. CRC 3849 is also maintained as PI 539523 / VI 311.
Produced, evaluated, and maintained the CRC 3849 Ponkan seedling accession.
Sources: [1]
Ponkan is an ancient Asian mandarin cultivar whose exact origin is uncertain. Tyôzaburô Tanaka proposed in 1927 that it originated in India and spread widely through Asia at an early date. Long-established seedling groves in India support an ancient presence there, but the original tree, date, and individual originator are unknown.
Sources: [1]