NERO® is a new early variety of seedless clementine to have originated in 2002 from irradiated Nules clementine buds.
The tree is globe-like in shape, and tends to grow in an open and vigorous fashion. It does not have thorns, although some small ones may be found in the more vigororus stalks. The bark is smooth, free of bulges or multi-buds and leaves are spear-like, medium in size and light green in colour.
Harvesting may be carried out before the period of the Nules clementine, as early as the beginning of October.
The fruit is large and flat in form, with a fine and thin orange skin that sticks firmly to the pulp despite ease of peeling. The pulp is tender with juice of a good flavour, although it tends to crystallise if the fruit becomes overripe while still on the tree. Senescence begins at the end of November and beginning of December.
Seeds are generally not produced as the variety is self-incompatible and has sterile male and female gametes.
An average 0.25 seeds are found in fruit pollinated manually (a reduction of 98% in comparison to the Nules clementine). The anthers of the flowers produce a small amount of pollen grains that are relatively infertile, meaning seeds are not formed in fruit of other sexually compatible varieties.
The best time for ripening is at the start of November, when juice content is 48% and the fruit has an average thickness of 61mm. Nero generally ripens around 10 to 15 days before Clemenules.