The challenge
A niche industry
Lime production in Australia covers around 600 hectares under cultivation representing around two percent of total citrus production. The Tahitian lime variety alone accounts for 94 percent of Australian lime production.
But Australia is the home to several citrus species, ranging in shapes, size, colour and taste.
The Australian finger lime is the most well-known of the species. A niche component of Australia's lime production, finger limes are mainly grown along the eastern coastline of New South Wales and Queensland. These plantations are small with the majority under 300 trees.
While accounting for just 0.23 percent of total lime production, finger limes are experiencing increasing consumer interest in novel lime types for food and beverage use.
The diversity of lime types within Australia provides a unique resource for breeding and selection to create novel limes and further develop commercial opportunities for the country's citrus industry.
Our response
Cross-breeding new varieties
Our plant breeders have been able to use traditional plant breeding and selection (non-GM) methods to harness the distinct characteristics of Australian limes to produce new varieties suitable for commercial use.
These novel limes include a range of fruit shapes, size, colour and taste. Our citrus breeding program aims to develop novel lime types that produce consistent yields of good quality fruit to help to grow the Australian lime industry by offering consumers an exclusive food experience.
The results
Commercially available Australian lime varieties
We have bred and commercially released a number of novel lime varieties for ornamental and food uses. Australian Blood was developed from a cross between an acid mandarin and a red-flesh finger lime. Australian Sunrise is a seedling selection of a Faustrimedin hybrid. Australian Outback is a cultivar developed from a collection of different desert lime trees.
These three lime varieties were granted Plant Breeders Rights in 2004 and are licensed to several nurseries across Australia. Potted ornamentals are retailed through major nursery chains and by the licensed nurseries.
A range of new novel lime varieties are also being evaluated for their potential suitability for commercial food and ornamental uses.