Native Home, Historical Back Ground Importance of Citrus Fruit in Pakistan

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NATIVE HOME, HISTORICAL BACK GROUND IMPORTANCE OF CITRUS FRUIT IN PAKISTAN

Niaz Ahmad Chaudhary*, Muhammad Nawaz Maken**, Malik Shabbir Ahmad** * Horticulturist, Citrus Research Station, Sargodha ** Assistant Research Officers, Citrus Research Station, Sargodha

Scanty information has been of Nippur in Mesopotamia, which dates responsible for poor knowledge about back to 4000 BC. Probably citron might early history and origin of citrus fruits. have been known in Mesopotamia since Tanaka has reported that true citrus fruits ancient time. Citron was the first among appeared on the globe after Australia had citrus fruits emigrant to Europe. The been separated from the main continent Greeks found citron growing in Media during the upper Cretacious period at and Persia, hence the name C.medica. least 30 million year ago. While De Tolkowsky thought that citron was Condolle does not include the citrus introduced between 250 and 200 BC. It fruits in his list of those which have been seems to have spread to Greece and Italy in cultivation for 4,000 years, but there by the end of the third century. The seems to be evidence that some of them earliest description of citron dates to were cultivated at least that long in fourth century AD. In India citron is China. Hu states that Chines literature found under wild conditions particularly written as early as 2200 BC refers to the in Nilgiris, Assam and the lower cultivation of some citrus fruits in China. Himalayas. It seems probable that Establishing origin of citrus fruits Northwest of India is the place of origin has been a matter of countroversy. of citron. The sweet orange is believed However, most of the taxonomists have to have originated in Southern China or a general agreement that Himalayan Cochin China and thousands of years region and South China are the places of ago it has spread to India. However, with origin for most citrus fruits. Many citrus regard to its present form there are species have their origin in India. divided opinions. According to one it Hooker considered not less than 78 developed its present form in China and species of family Rutaceae as natives of then spread to India, while the other India. Bhattacharya and Dutta suggestd opinion is that it has developed its that at least two species of subgenus present form in India. Sweet oranges Eucitrus – Citrus indica and C. might have been introduced into Europe assamensis and three species of in the16th century by the Portuguese. subgenus Pepeda – C.ichangensis, Vasco de Gama found citrus fruits C.latipes and C.macroptera are definitely growing on the east coast of Africa, indigenous to Assam. Swingle and where it might have been introduced others maintained that Southern Arabia during the first century by Arabs from was the origin of citrus fruits while Von Persia and India. Vasco de Gama on his Frimmel considered Mesopotamia as the return trip from India took sweet oranges place of origin, because the seeds of to Portugal. Many regard this as the first citron, C. medica were found in the ruins introduction of sweet oranges into 49

Europe. There is another school of commonly designated as mandarins. thought about the introduction of sweet Though mandarin and tangerine are orange into Europe. Sweet orange was names used more or less interchangeably introduced into India during the to designate the whole group, tangerine thirteenth century from south-eastern is applied more strictly to those varieties Asian countries, when there was trade producing deep orange or scarlet fruits. between India and China and became The differences between these two well established in India, in time to be groups are very slight, the main visible taken to Europe much earlier to Vasco difference being the colour of the fruit, de Gama. Columbus has introduced usually considered Varietal in orange and lemon in the new world magnitude. As such from the during one of his voyages. Later horticultural standpoint, the Dancy and Portuguese and Spanish travelers took Beauty tangerins can be called as citrus to South America. mandarins. This is easily said than done because these two names got firmly ORANGES established in the world markets and The orange is supposed to have been cannot be easily erased. taken to Portugal in 1498 and from Inspite of their close relationship and Portugal to Malta Island which was having many characters in common, the Portugese colony. Blood red varieties of mandarin oranges can easily be oranges are reported to have arisen in separated into rather distinct-groups; in Malta as result of spontaneous bud fact certain investigators have proposed mutation. In the year 1517 or sometime to recognize these groups as distinct in the sixteenth century, were taken species. As such, King orange was given along with them by Columbus and his a name, Citrus nobilis, and Satsuma successors to South America. The oranges are named as C. unshiu while seedless Navel type of seedling orange Swingle considered them as natural rose as a bud sport at Bahia in varieties of mandarin oranges. Webber Brazil.This variety then known as Bahia has separated the mandarin oranges into Navel was later taken to North – I- King group ii- Satsuma group, iii- America and planted at Riverside and Mandarin group iv- Tangerine group v- Washington and named as Riverside Mandarin – lime group and finally vi- Navel or Washington Navel. Similarly Mitis group. However, till the taxonomic some time in the later part of the investigations are completed, it seems sixteenth century oranges were advisable to retain the name mandarin as introduced into St. Helena and there group name to all the loose – skinned from to South – Africa. The common oranges. tight skinned early orange called The most important mandarin in Mosambi was imported into Indo – India, undoubtedly is the Santra (Citrus Pakistan sub continent from reticulata) which includes varieties such Mosambique in Africa which also as Nagpur santra, Coorg Santra, and developed as a bud sport. Khasi orange.

MANDARIN GRAPE FRUIT Loose – skinned oranges, belonging The origin of the grapefruit is not to species Citrus reticulata Blanco are definitely known. Those who have made

50 a careful study of the problem state that known in those areas until much later is apparently did not come from China than his time. or adjacent areas in the southeastern Phillippe gave seeds from his grove portion of Asia where some citrus fruits to many of his neighbors, and many of are native, or from any of the European the old seedling grapefruit trees in citrus growing areas. Grapefruit has been Florida are said to have come from this introduced and grown in Europe only in source. comparatively recent years. Tussac (1808-27) described a variety Sloane (1696, 1707) described the of shaddock as a fruit not larger than a shaddock as growing in Jamaica by 1696 good orange, which was borne in and in Barbados by 1707, but he did not bunches like grapes and which was mention the “forbidden fruit”, or designated as the “forbidden fruit” or grapefruit. Hughes (1750) was the first “smaller shaddock.” Apparently, the to mention it as being found in variety known to the early writers as the Barbados, and Browne (1789) reported it “forbidden fruit” was known also, at from Jamaica under the names least in Jamaica, as the “grapefruit.” It “forbidden fruit” and “smaller thus appears reasonable to assume that shaddock.” Marloth (1952), who the name “grapefruit” originated in discussed briefly the origin and early Jamaica, and has been used since 1814. distribution of citrus fruits, said that some grapefruit trees were growing in ORIGIN OF SOME VARIETIES South Africa as early as 1661. The Marsh White, with no pink About 1809, a Spanish nobleman. coloration in its fruit, is well “Don Phillippe” [Felipe], migrated to authenticated as having arisen as a Florida and settled near what is now seedling or a root sprout from a seedy locally known as Green Springs, in white grapefruit in Florida (Webber, Pinellas Country. He was said to have 1943; Waibel, 1953). It is the most brought grapefruit seeds with him, and common, nearly seedless, commercial from them to have developed a small grapefruit in the United States and in grove, the first grapefruit planting in the most other grapefruit-producing areas. state (Hume, 1926). Just where Phillippe The Foster (Foster Pink) originated obtained his seeds, and the exact date of in Florida as a limb sport on a tree of the planting, were not stated. There appear Walters variety, which is a white, seedy to be at least 2 explanations as to the type. The Foster, discovered in 1906, is source of the seeds. A citrus fruit called also a seedy type, and was the first the “grapefruit” was growing in Jamaica Pigmented grapefruit variety of record in (Lunan, 1814), and this may have been Florida (Webber and Batchelor, 1943). the source. On the other hand, Duncan Hodgson (1955) said that the (1892), a pioneer grower in the same Thompson (Marsh Pink) originated as a county, who named and introduced the limb sport on a Marsh tree in Florida, Duncan grapefruit, stated that “fifty was discovered in 1913, and introduced years ago Phillippe planted seeds ‘of in 1924. The pink color in the Thompson grapefruit’ which came from Cuba.” At is limited to the pulp; that is, it shows no any rate, he could not have obtained his color in the rind as indicated by the seeds from Europe or Asia since, as absence of color in the membranes, stated above, the grapefruit was not measocarp, and external fruit surface. 51

The Thompson, in common with the develop external rind coloration under Marsh, is nearly seedless and, according Florida growing conditions. The pulp of to Hodgson (1967), it was the first the Burgundy is more highly colored seedless pigmented variety to be than that of the Redblush, and the color discovered. In the early 1930’s, the is retained over a longer maturation Thompson was widely planted in Texas period. The Burgundy variety first but, as predicted by Webber (1943), this occurred as anentire tree, which variety is likely to be superseded by the indicates that it originated as an deeper pink and red varieties unless it undetected bud sport of the Thompson. still proves to be superior in quality. The nucellar seedlings of the Burgundy The Ruby (Henninger’s Ruby), of do not produce the true color of the deep flesh color and with a red blush on parent clone. the peel, likewise occurred as a limb sport on a Thompson tree in Texas, and POMMELO was found in 1929. This fruit has An interesting illustration of the characteristics similar to those of danger of basing history on Thompson (Marsh Pink) in all respects, nomenclature is afforded by the except for the deep-red color uniformly pummelo. The English name, with its distributed throughout the membranes variations, is derived by some from the and pulp (Juice vesicles) but not present Latin ‘Pomum melo’ and it seems quite in the juice. The fruit has colored albedo reasonable that such a large yellow fruit and a red blush on the exterior surface of might be called the ‘melon fruit’. But the rind. The color of the flesh fades Bonavia is apparently right in deriving with fruit maturity. In Texas, Ruby is the the name from the Dutch ‘pomelomes’, most prominent pigmented variety, and the origin of which is uncertain, or from has been extensively planted there. the same source. Such forms as The Webb (Webb’s Redblush) is ‘pomelomes’, and ‘pimple nose’ occur in another mutant (limb sport) of the the early English literature. Some Thompson, discovered in 1931. As vernacular names such as ‘papanas’ in Webber (1943) noted, the Redblush is so Bomby and ‘bambalinas’ in Madras, similar to the Ruby that is difficult to may have the same derivation. In North distinguish these varieties by physical India the most common names are appearance, because the Redblush also ‘mahtabi’ and ‘chakotra’, and for these, has a red blush on the outer rind, and again certain pundits have very plausible deep-red flesh. The Thompson, Ruby, explanations. The former is supposed to and Webb are nearly seedless, which is compare the fruit to the moon, ‘mahtab’ important with respect to their while ‘chakotra, is said to come from commercial possibilities. Of these 3 ‘chak’, a wheel. Bonavia, on the other kinds, the Ruby has successfully hand, derives ‘mahtabi’ from ‘batabi’ superseded the Thompson, and has from Batavia, and ‘chakotra’ from become the most prominent pigmented Jakatra, the ancient and now revived variety in commercial production. name for Batavia. If he is right, as seems The Burgundy (Burgundy Red) likely, this is an indication that the grapefrit is a late-maturing variety that pummelo came to India from Java where was discovered in Florida about 1948. It many varieties are now cultivated, is seedless, has red pulp, but fails to although it may have been imported

52 from other regions also. De Candolle origin of the lemon remain in doubt, thought that the species originated in the although they speculated that it islands east of the Malaya Archipelago, originated in southeast Asia. When includingFiji and the Friendly Islands. lemon culture began is also unknown. Siam produces a great variety of Tolkowsky (1938), on the basis of pummelos, including some very good ancient literary references, theorized ones. This indicates that they have been lemon culture was well established in grown there for a very long time, and it Iraq by about 900 AD. Certainly, the is possible that they originated on the culture of the lemon was furthered in mainland of south – eastern Asia, rather Persia and Palestine by the Arabs, and than in the island region. Bretschneider there is considerable evidence from (1898) on the other hand, states literature that the lemon was commonly definitely that they are indigenous to grown in the twelfth century AD China, and Tolkowsky points out that (Webber. Reuther and Lawton, 1967). they were mentioned in a collection of The Arabs also appear to have carried Chinese documents written between the the lemon with them in expanding 24 th and 8 th centuries B.C. The pummelo Citriculture into Spain and the North seems to have followed the sweet orange African countries. to Europe, where it has never become important except as the grapefruit, which ORIGIN OF SOME VARIETIES is thought to have originated as a i. Eureka variation of the pummelo. The name The Eureka originated in California shaddock, sometimes used for this fruit, in the 1880’s from a group of seedlings is said to have come from Captain grown from fruit of Italian origin. Shaddock, whose ship was one of the ii. Lisbon: first to take the fruit to the West Indies, The Lisbon is of Portuguese origin th in the 16 century. and is believed to be a selection from the Gallego seedling clonal group in that LEMON country. The origin of the lemon has long ii. Berna: been a source of controversy among both The Berna which has undesirably historians and taxonomists. Tolkowsky large fruit is the most important Spanish (1938) believed that the earliest mention variety and is represented by more than of the lemon is in Sanskrit texts assigned 90 percent of the acreage in the Levant. to about 800 BC, thereby suggesting an The variety is also widely grown in Indian origin. Webber (1943) concluded Algeria and Morocco. that the lemon was native to the eastern iii. Femminello Ovale Himalayas in northern Burma and The Femminello Ovale (Comune, southern China. Hodgson (1967) Ruvittaru) provides good quality fruit for asserted that the lemon must have fresh shipment or processing. The originated in the eastern Himalayan Femminello group represents the oldest region of India and adjoining areas, Italian lemon varieties and accounts for because natural hybrids with citron and about three fourths of Italian production. lemon characters are found there. The trees are characterized by an Webber, Reuther, and Lawton (1967) everblooming, everbearing habit which agreedthat the exact place and mode of makes them very responsive to the 53 verdelli or forced treatment of Sicilian Indian ‘nimbu’ or ‘limbu’ may have lemon culture. come from the Malayan ‘lemoen’. iv. Femminello Sfusato The Femminello Sfusato (Favazzina, PROBABLE ORIGIN OF SOME Siracusa) is similar or indentical to the SPECIES California Lisbon clones. This variety has largely been replaced in Italy by the Citrus Medica Linn (Citron) Femminello Ovale and other varieties. Commonly considered to be v. Interdonato (Speciale) indigenous to India. Rajit Singh reports Interdonato (Speciale) is considered the distribution of many types of citron a lemon citron hybrid, and originated in all over India. Probably citron is the first about 1857 on the property of Colonel citrus fruit to reach Europe. Romans Interdonato in Nizza, Sicily. It has good found it growing in Media and Pesia, resistance to mal secco disease and is hence the name Citrus medica. Jews planted mainly for that reason. It called it Etrog and made use in their accounts for about 5 percent of Italian rituals. It is mainly grown for its peel. lemon production. Citron is most sensitive to frost. vi. Mesero Citrus aurantifolia Swingle (Acid lime) Mesero (Primofiori, Fino) is a Includes, Egyptian, Indian, and Spanish variety of unknown origin, Mexican limes. Tanaka says it is a native which is preferred processors for its high of Malayan peninsula, while Hume says jiice and acid content. it is native to India and South eastern vii. Monachello Asia. Monachello (Moscatello) is probadly Citrus latifolia Tanaka (Tahiti or also a lemon-ctron hybrid.At one time it Persian lime) was planted exclusively in Italy because It is anative of South Pacific. of its resistance to mal secco disease, Botanically it closely resembles although it is inferior to Femminello. aurantifolia but physiologically it is viii. Villafranca quite different. It is as hardy as lemon. It Villafranca is believed to be of is a triploid. It is more resistant to pests, Sicilian origin and was first planted in diseases and unfavourable conditions in Florida about 1875. The fruit is general. indistinguishable from Eureka, and the Citrus limettioides Tanaka (Sweet lime) variety has steadily decreased in It is indigenous to India. An commercial importance. important rootstock in the near East and grown to some extent for the non-acid LIME fruit. Tender to frost. The lime is frequently confused with Citrus Jambhiri Lush (Rough lemon; the lemon, which makes it very difficult jambiri) to trace its early history. It is very Tanaka found this fruit scarce in commonly grown all over India, but eastern India, though Bonavia collected does not seem to occur wild. Perhaps the it in the United Provinces. Dutta found at most probable theory is that of Bonavia least six distinct forms of jambhiri in that it also originated in the Malayan Assam and believed Assam as native region. He points out the possibility that place of jambhiri. Ranjit Singh reports both the English word ‘lime’ and the unlimited variation in the types of Rough

54 lemon found in India. As such it can introduced sweet orange into the New safely be concluded that Rough lemon is World. indigenous to India. It is one of the Citrus Grandis Osbeck (Pummelo or world’s principal rootstocks. It is fairly Shaddock; Chakotra) sensitive to frost. It is considered to be indigenous to Citrus karna Raff (Kharna khatta) Malaya and Polynesia, Different names It is indigenous to India. It exhibits have been used for this species. Swingle characters suggestive of the lemon, and and Tanaka go by Citrus grandis while Rough lemon or possibly sour orange chatterjee maintains that Citrus maxima also. The leaves and flowers of this is correct. Another fairly common name species are similar to those of Rough is Citrus documana orange. Moderately lemon, but are larger in size and the hardly to frost. Important only in Orient. petiolar wing is more prominent. As a The principal centers of production root stock it is widely used in India. occur in Southern China, Thailand. Citrus limonia Osbeck (Rangpur lime) Vietnam, Malaysia etc. It is a native of India. It is a prolific Citrus reticulate blance (Orange or variety of citrus with well flavoured and Santra of India) very acid fruit. On the basis of a report by Bonavia Citrus aurantium Linn (Sour, Bigarade that mandarins were found under semi- or Soville orange) wild conditions at Butwal, Tanaka India is said to be its possible home. concludes that mandarin is indigenous to Dutta reports that sour orange grows Nepal. However, most of the gregariously in certain parts of the Naga taxanomists accepted Cohin-China as the hills, Khasi hills etc. Hume considers birth place of mandarins. Rumphium had South eastern Asia, probably Cochin seen it cultivated in all the Sunda Islands China as the place of origin. and said that it was introduced from Citrus sinensis osbeck (Sweet orange) China. By far the most important species of Citrus unshiu M (Satsuma mandarin) Citrus, of great economic importance Japanese origin, Satsuma mandarin and most widely cultivated all over the as a group include several varieties in world. It is generally accepted that the Japan, of which Owari is a most sweet oranges have originated in important one. southern China. Tanaka considers it to be indigenous to Eastern Burma, while KUMQUATS Swingle considered it to be either native Kumquats belong to genus of Southern China or North eastern Fortunella. Kumquat is a Chinese word British India. It is generally believed that meaning ‘gold orange’. They are native sweet orange in its present form had to South-eastern China. Thunberg developed in China, before it migrated to described it under the name Citrus India during the thirteenth century. The japonica. It was also given several research of Gallesio proved that sweet names by several people. However, in oranges were not known in Europe until 1915, Swingle separated the Kumquats early in the fifteenth century. from Citrus and placed then in a new Christopher Columbus during his second genus Fortunella, named after Robert voyage to the New World in 1493 has Fortune, who intrduced the Kumquat 55 into Europe in 1946. The four known socio economic life of the people of forms were described as species. Pakistan Poncirus trifoliate L. (Trifoliate
It has great opportunities for orange) employment It is indigenous to Central or North
It provides raw material to the Citrus China. Unlike other citrus fruits it is based industry deciduous and more hardy to cold,
Citrus production has increased the therefore, used as a stock in regions per Capita availability of fruits to the where the frost hazard is great as in people of Pakistan. Japan, China, United States and USSR .
It has contributed a reasonable share It is commonly grown as an ornamental in GDP. plant in Asia, Europe, and North
Due to increase in export on yearly America. The Chinese, for centuries basis Citrus contributed foreign used the dried fruits in their medical exchange for the country. During the practices. year 2002 Citrus export from the country was worth 21 million IMPORTANCE IN PAKISTAN dollars. In Pakistan, citrus is the largest
Citrus grown over thousands of acre group of fruits produced over an area of exert pleasant effect on environment about 5 lac acres, which is about 40% of and resulted in reduction of the total fruit produced in Pakistan. pollution. More than 95% of Citrus is produced in
Citrus orchard grown over a vast the province of Punjab. About 70% of area provide a great pleasure, the Citrus Grown in Punjab is kinnow. aesthetic and relaxation to the The production of Citrus fruit is viewers. more than 20 million ton. Besides it is
It has a great potential for value consumed as fresh fruit, processing of addition products. kinnow into concentrated juice for
Citrus fruits are important due to export and local industry has also been nutritive, medicinal values and started. This is a good start as only source of prosperity. industrialization can provide the required capital and technology for References revolutionizing our citrus industry. Ginai, M. Ashgar. 1966. A treatise on Citrus fruits and frozen concentrated Horticulture. The Citrus fruits. orange juice are in a great demand. Our pp.128-166 citrus can play a vital role on this aspect. Khan D. A. 1994. Problem and prospects Pakistan has tremendous potential of Horticulture in Pakistan pp.15- for expansion of Citrus industry due to 39 proceeding of Ist international its suitability of soil, largest river and seminar on Hort. at PARC: canal network and favorable climatic Islamabad. conditions for Citrus production. Landsverk. J. 1994. Opportunities & The citrus growing in Sargodha, concerns in Citrus processing in Faisalabad, Multan Division is not only Pakistan pp. 257-264 Proceeding a source of income to the growers but of Ist Inter Hort. Seminar at also have the following impact in the PARC, Islamabad.

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Orlando S. Passo. 2004. Advances in Citriculture origin, botanical classification and geographical distribution of Citrus pp.1-7 Rajput C.B. S. and Sri. 1985. Citriculture History, origin & spread Hari babu published. Kalyani publisher Ludheana. pp- 1-24. Sinclair W.B. 1984. Origin & the history of lemon. The lemon published by Univ. of California pp. 1-15. Sinclair W.B. 1972. Origin & history of grapefruit The grapefruit published by Univ. of California pp. 1-17. W.B. Hays. 1960. Fruits growing in India. The citrus fruits pp. 185- 263.