The navel orange is a variety of orange with a characteristic second fruit at the apex, which protrudes slightly like a human navel. This variety first was caused by a mutation in an orange tree, and first appeared in the early 19th century at a monastery in Bahia, Brazil.[1] The mutation caused the orange to develop a second fruit at its base, opposite the stem, embedded within the peel of the primary orange.[2] This mutation also caused it to be seedless,[1][3] meaning the only way the plant can be propogated is by cutting and grafting.[2][4]
Navel oranges are mainly an eating fruit because they are seedless and their thicker skin makes them easy to peel.[5] They are also less suitable for juice than other orange varieties as they are less juicy, and because their flesh contains limonin, which becomes bitter when exposed to air.[6][7]
- ^ a b "The Origin of Oranges". ArcGIS StoryMaps. 2021-11-01. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ a b "Navel Oranges". specialtyproduce.com. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ Admin, Site (2019-12-09). "Everything You Wanted to Know About Navel Oranges". Yarden. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ^ "Commodity Fact Sheet: Citrus Fruits" (PDF). California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ Kimball, Dan A. (June 30, 1999). Citrus processing: a complete guide (2d ed.). New York: Springer. p. 450. ISBN 978-0-8342-1258-9.
- ^ Judd, Angela (2024-01-24). "3 Tips for Juicing Oranges: How To Juice Citrus". Growing In The Garden. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ^ "Are Valencia Oranges Good for Juicing? – The Groves". 2021-06-10. Retrieved 2024-08-15.