W Murcott Mandarin

Imported to California from Morocco in 1985. W. Murcott was reported to have arisen from a seed from a Murcott tree; whether it resulted from self-pollination or pollen from another variety is unresolved.^⁠[1]

Letter dated 7/27/84 from El Bachir Nador to George White, USDA, says: AFOURER, W. Murcott- Less seeds, better fruit coloration than Murcott Honey and easily peelable.^⁠[1]

The tree is moderate in size and vigor. The fruit is usually flattened with a thin, smooth, orange rind that is easy to peel. The fruit is low-seeded in the absence of cross-pollination, but seedy when cross-pollinated. The flesh is orange-colored and juicy, with a rich and sweet flavor. As with most mandarins, W. Murcott is susceptible to alternate-bearing. The fruit matures in February and holds on the tree very well.^⁠[1]

UCR describes W. Murcott as a moderate-sized tree with alternate bearing. A 2007 visit found thin canopies, dieback and widely varying yields in one Lindcove planting, but the cause was not known. One home grower separately reports variable crops, a heavier set, and no winter dieback on a single tree at a site reaching about 25°F. These observations are specific to their trees and settings.^{⁠[1]⁠[3]⁠[2]}

Research results depend on the treatment and rootstock studied. A 2024–25 Turkish postharvest study reports mean fruit weights of 100.53 g on silicon-treated trees versus 89.55 g untreated. An Adana abstract reports total citric acid from 0.68% on Bitters to 0.78% on sour orange; its sample size and full methods are unavailable. These are study-specific comparisons, not fixed fruit or sensory values for W. Murcott.^⁠[4]⁠[7]