New Citrus Variety is Very Sweet, Juicy and Low-Seeded

A new mandarin variety, ‘KinnowLS’ (the LS is short for low seeded), has been developed. It’s very sweet, juicy, and low-seeded. “People who like very sweet fruit are going to find ‘KinnowLS’ to be very appealing,” said Mikeal Roose, a professor of genetics in, and chair of, the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, who developed ‘KinnowLS’ along with staff scientist Timothy Williams.

‘KinnowLS’ can be grown in California’s desert regions because the fruit, which matures during February through April, does well in hot climates.

Currently, plans are to distribute ‘KinnowLS’ budwood, starting June 2011, to only licensed nurseries in California. For three years, only California nurseries will be permitted to propagate ‘KinnowLS.’ Licenses for ‘KinnowLS’ propagation outside the United States will be issued thereafter. KinnowLS will not arrive in U.S. produce aisles for at least five years. —  University of California – Riverside 2011, April 11.

Europe’s Wildlife under Threat from Nitrogen, Study Warns

A new international study warns that nitrogen pollution, resulting from industry and agriculture, is putting wildlife in Europe’s at risk. More than 60 per cent of the EU’s most important wildlife sites receive aerial nitrogen pollution inputs above sustainable levels.

Dr Kevin Hicks, of the SEI at the University of York, said, “While the nitrogen impacts on plant species are relatively well understood its effects on other wildlife, such as butterflies, and the consequent implications for biodiversity are not so clear.”

A team of scientists, conservation and environmental managers and policy makers from across Europe, co-ordinated by the Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York, reviewed evidence from across Europe. The study confirmed nitrogen deposition as a major threat to biodiversity in the Natura 2000 network established under the Community’s Habitats Directive to safeguard important habitats and species. —  University of York 2011, April 14.