Thanks to the sequencing of the genomes of 20 varieties of Sicilian oranges, mutations have been identified that reveal the origin, evolution, and differentiation of the oranges, which are useful for the genetic traceability of red-fleshed oranges. The study was published in the international journal The Plant Genome.

The study allows for a clearer understanding of the evolution and history of pigmented oranges and their spontaneous mutations, which cause the diversification of Italian oranges into the main varietal groups (common, Navel, Valencia, Tarocco, Sanguigno, Sanguinello, Moro), each characterized by substantial differences.