Citrustype

Citrustype is a term used in horticulture to describe a grouping of citrus fruits based on shared fruit characteristics rather than on strict botanical lineage. It is not a formal taxonomic rank, but a descriptive label found in breeding notes, grower guides, and industry glossaries to convey expected fruit traits to producers and markets.

Traits commonly used to define a citrustype include fruit size and shape, rind thickness and color, segment structure, juice content and acidity, sweetness, aroma profile, and peel oil composition. Visual and processing traits such as ease of peeling, seed presence, and segment tightness may also contribute. Because citrus genetics are highly interbred, a cultivar may be associated with multiple citrustypes depending on which trait is emphasized.

Applications of citrustype include guiding selective breeding, helping retailers communicate product expectations, and informing crop management decisions. The label is not standardized—definitions and boundaries vary by region, institution, or program—so two sources may describe the same cultivar under different citrustypes.

Commonly discussed citrustype groupings include mandarin-type, lemon-type, lime-type, orange-type, and grapefruit-type, among others. These labels reflect consumer-facing categories rather than formal taxonomy and are primarily descriptive rather than prescriptive.

Because citrustype is not universally defined, ongoing efforts in standardization and phenotypic or genomic descriptors could improve consistency across research and industry.