Articles
Citrus rootstock options for different growing conditions
Article number
1399_20
Pages
157 – 164
Language
English
Abstract
The South African citrus industry has 22 screening and semi-commercial rootstock trial sites to evaluate the suitability of new rootstocks to various citrus production regions and to assess their influence on production with various scion cultivars.
A mandarin-rootstock screening trial, situated in a cool inland citrus producing area, consists of Leanri and Samba scions on seven rootstock cultivars including US-812 (S×B), Bitters (C22), Carpenter (C54) and Furr (C57) as the experimental rootstocks and were compared to controls; Swingle citrumelo, Carrizo citrange and Citrange 35. The Leanri trees on Bitters were the smallest, Furr trees were medium-sized and Carpenter trees were larger, concurring with descriptions of these rootstocks.
However, Samba on Carpenter resulted in the largest tree with similar sizes for Bitters and Furr.
Two Valencia-rootstock trials planted in different climatic production regions showed that calcareous soils, tree age and climate impact the performance cycle of trees.
One trial was located in warm, dry inland region that had scions Alpha, Bennie, Gusocora, Henrietta, Jasi, Louisa, K. du Toit Late and McClean SL Valencias grafted on Citrange 35 and US-812 (S×B), compared to Rough lemon and X639 as controls.
In the second trail, the compatibility and yield production were also assessed in a Valencia-rootstock trial in an intermediate citrus producing region. Midknight, McClean SL, Skilderkrans, K. du Toit Late, Jasi, and Valencia Late (control) were scions evaluated on Swingle citrumelo and US-812 (S×B) rootstocks.
The information generated from these trials will provide additional options for orchard establishment in different production regions that differ in climate and soil types.
Suitable rootstock choices are important for optimum fruit production and quality.
A mandarin-rootstock screening trial, situated in a cool inland citrus producing area, consists of Leanri and Samba scions on seven rootstock cultivars including US-812 (S×B), Bitters (C22), Carpenter (C54) and Furr (C57) as the experimental rootstocks and were compared to controls; Swingle citrumelo, Carrizo citrange and Citrange 35. The Leanri trees on Bitters were the smallest, Furr trees were medium-sized and Carpenter trees were larger, concurring with descriptions of these rootstocks.
However, Samba on Carpenter resulted in the largest tree with similar sizes for Bitters and Furr.
Two Valencia-rootstock trials planted in different climatic production regions showed that calcareous soils, tree age and climate impact the performance cycle of trees.
One trial was located in warm, dry inland region that had scions Alpha, Bennie, Gusocora, Henrietta, Jasi, Louisa, K. du Toit Late and McClean SL Valencias grafted on Citrange 35 and US-812 (S×B), compared to Rough lemon and X639 as controls.
In the second trail, the compatibility and yield production were also assessed in a Valencia-rootstock trial in an intermediate citrus producing region. Midknight, McClean SL, Skilderkrans, K. du Toit Late, Jasi, and Valencia Late (control) were scions evaluated on Swingle citrumelo and US-812 (S×B) rootstocks.
The information generated from these trials will provide additional options for orchard establishment in different production regions that differ in climate and soil types.
Suitable rootstock choices are important for optimum fruit production and quality.
Publication
Authors
J. Joubert, W. Swiegers, P.J.R. Cronjé
Keywords
compatibility, soil type, fruit quality, yield production, fruit size, tree vigour and size
Groups involved
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