Articles
Quality citrus planting stock production program – a success story from Central India
Article number
1413_22
Pages
185 – 194
Language
English
Abstract
Nagpur Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) is a highly popular table fruit in India, known for its unique taste.
It serves as the main commercial fruit crop in Central India, particularly in the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, where it is cultivated over an area of 0.25 million hectares.
However, citrus decline has posed a significant challenge to citrus cultivation for decades, leading to substantial economic losses by reducing orchard productivity and increasing maintenance costs.
Historically, the absence of rapid, reliable, and cost-effective diagnostic techniques limited large-scale multiplication of citrus plants.
However, advancements in biotechnology, particularly shoot tip grafting (STG), along with rapid diagnostic methods, have revolutionized this process.
These innovations have enabled the Central Citrus Research Institute (CCRI) to develop protocols for the large-scale multiplication of elite, healthy planting material.
By integrating STG with micro budding and improving nursery practices, CCRI has significantly enhanced the production of quality planting stock.
Elite mother trees of Nagpur Mandarin are selected and sanitized using STG technology, and the foundation stock of scion bud wood sources is raised under protective conditions.
By 2022, approximately 0.45 million quality bud grafts of Nagpur Mandarin were produced and distributed to farmers and nurseries, contributing to the establishment of around 1,000 ha of healthy orchards and generating Rs.
Twenty million in revenue.
STG-derived planting stock has shown superior growth and yield performance compared to conventional methods.
Furthermore, CCRI’s Quarantine program introduced and sanitized a large number of exotic citrus accessions, adding 22 cultivars to the citrus gene pool.
Notably, three exotic scion cultivars – ‘USA-145’ pummelo, ‘Flame’ grapefruit, and ‘Cutter Valencia’ – were released as new varieties, with ongoing technology transfers to stakeholders.
It serves as the main commercial fruit crop in Central India, particularly in the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, where it is cultivated over an area of 0.25 million hectares.
However, citrus decline has posed a significant challenge to citrus cultivation for decades, leading to substantial economic losses by reducing orchard productivity and increasing maintenance costs.
Historically, the absence of rapid, reliable, and cost-effective diagnostic techniques limited large-scale multiplication of citrus plants.
However, advancements in biotechnology, particularly shoot tip grafting (STG), along with rapid diagnostic methods, have revolutionized this process.
These innovations have enabled the Central Citrus Research Institute (CCRI) to develop protocols for the large-scale multiplication of elite, healthy planting material.
By integrating STG with micro budding and improving nursery practices, CCRI has significantly enhanced the production of quality planting stock.
Elite mother trees of Nagpur Mandarin are selected and sanitized using STG technology, and the foundation stock of scion bud wood sources is raised under protective conditions.
By 2022, approximately 0.45 million quality bud grafts of Nagpur Mandarin were produced and distributed to farmers and nurseries, contributing to the establishment of around 1,000 ha of healthy orchards and generating Rs.
Twenty million in revenue.
STG-derived planting stock has shown superior growth and yield performance compared to conventional methods.
Furthermore, CCRI’s Quarantine program introduced and sanitized a large number of exotic citrus accessions, adding 22 cultivars to the citrus gene pool.
Notably, three exotic scion cultivars – ‘USA-145’ pummelo, ‘Flame’ grapefruit, and ‘Cutter Valencia’ – were released as new varieties, with ongoing technology transfers to stakeholders.
Authors
N. Vijayakumari, A.K. Das, D.K. Ghosh
Keywords
citrus exotic varieties, clean stock program, micro budding shoot tip grafting, varietal improvement
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