Horticultural Evaluation of New Citrus Latipes Hybrids As Rootstocks For
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HORTSCIENCE 44(3):595–598. 2009. Materials and Methods The rootstocks used in the three tests are Horticultural Evaluation of New listed in Table 1. The C. latipes · trifoliate orange genotypes (labeled as 68-IG) used in Citrus latipes Hybrids as Rootstocks these tests were selected from a population of 83 hybrids obtained by cross in 1968. Gen- for Citrus otypes of C. latipes · sour orange (labeled as LTXAM) were selected from a population of Giuseppe Reforgiato Recupero1, Giuseppe Russo, and Santo Recupero 257 hybrids obtained in 1969. All the tested Research Center for Citriculture and Mediterranean Crops, Breeding hybrids were selected for their potential to Station, Corso Savoia, 190, Acireale, Catania 95024, Italy generate nucellar embryos. In a previous paper (Reforgiato Recupero and Russo, Roberto Zurru and Bruno Deidda 1992) is reported the percent of hybrids AGRIS Sardegna, Department of Wood and Fruit Tree Research, Cagliari, having high polyembryony in the various crosses. The seeds used to generate seedlings Italy for the experiment were harvested from Maurizio Mulas plants growing in the Fonti Ciane experimen- tal field at the CRA-ACM. Department of Economics and Tree Systems, University of Sassari, Sassari, The orange cultivar Tarocco TDV was Italy used in the experiment carried out in Sicily. Additional index words. sweet orange, clementine, sour orange Seedlings grafted in the greenhouse were planted the next year (May 1998) on Abstract. In 1968, the CRA-Research Center for Citriculture and Mediterranean Crops medium-texture soil in the experimental (CRA-ACM) started a research program aimed at breeding citrus rootstocks. The orchard of the CRA-ACM located at Palaz- monoembryonic species C. latipes (Swing.) Tan. was used as the female parent; trifoliate zelli (PA) (Sicily, Italy). The previous crop orange [Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.], sour orange, and volkamer lemon (C. volkameriana was orange grafted on sour orange rootstock. Pasq.) were used as male parents. The behavior of some of these hybrids tested with other After the orchard was uprooted, the soil was standard rootstocks in Sicily and Sardinia was evaluated. The cultivars under compar- left uncultivated for 2 years. ison included ‘Washington’ navel orange and ‘SRA 92’ clementine in Sardinia and ‘Tarocco TDV’ is a nucellar selection ‘Tarocco’ orange in Sicily. Our results showed the dramatic influence of rootstock on obtained in 1976 from a plant exhibiting juice plant growth and yield; only minor effects on fruit quality were observed. Among the vesicle degeneration (Reforgiato Recupero standard rootstocks tested, Swingle citrumelo provided the highest yield. Some of the and Russo, 1976–1977). The nucellar selec- tested hybrids (F5 P12, F6 P12, and F6 P13) may improve plant yield, thus maintaining tion does not present this unfavorable charac- good fruit quality. Encouraging data obtained with these hybrids may justify the use of teristic, probably because the mutation was monoembryonic species of the Papeda subgenus for breeding citrus rootstocks. chimerical and present only in the first layer (L1). The defining characteristics of this ‘Tarocco’ selection are: orange-colored peel As a result of its excellent agronomic and Soost, 1986); and the citrumelo ‘Swin- with a light anthocyanic pigmentation; fruit of qualities, sour orange continues to be used for gle’ that resulted from a cross performed in ovoid shape; equatorial mean diameter of 77 citrus in the regions where citrus tristeza virus 1907 (Hutchison, 1974; Wutsher, 1974). The mm and longitudinal mean diameter of 79 (CTV) is rare or absent. In Italy, sour orange widespread use of seed propagation for citrus mm; fruit mean weight of 240 g; deep red pulp was the most widely used rootstock until rootstock led to neglected consideration of color with a high anthocyan content; and early recently. However, the recent discovery of the monoembryonic species, particularly or midrange ripening time. Blood orange CTV infections in some citrus groves made it those of the subgenus Papeda, as well as cultivars are the mainstay of Italian orange necessary to exchange sour orange for a root- rootstocks as parents in breeding. production. The red color of fruit is an stock tolerant to the virus (Caruso et al., 2003; In 1968, the CRA-Research Center for important factor influencing consumer appeal Zurru et al., 2004). Soil sickness and insuffi- Citriculture and Mediterranean Crops (CRA- and marketability of both fruit and juices. In cient adaptability to particular environments ACM) started a research program aimed at addition, the antioxidant activity of anthocya- and/or cultivars reinforced the need for alter- breeding citrus rootstocks. The monoem- nins promotes health when they are consumed native rootstocks to replace sour orange. bryonic species C. latipes (Swing.) Tan. was in the diet, including prevention of cancer, Using controlled hybrids as candidate used as the female parent; trifoliate orange inflammation, and arteriosclerosis. rootstocks is possible if the hybrids meet [Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.], sour orange, and For the first test carried out in Sardinia, we the following conditions: 1) selection propa- volkamer lemon (C. volkameriana Pasq.) were used a ‘Washington’ navel nucellar selection gation through nucellar embryony; 2) toler- used as male parents. In previous observations, introduced from Riverside, CA, in the 1960s. ance or resistance to primary biotic and C. latipes showed high vigor and tolerance to The ‘SRA 92’ clementine selection was used abiotic stresses; 3) grafting compatibility ‘‘mal secco.’’ Progenies were planted in the for the second test. This cultivar was intro- with most citrus cultivars; and 4) adaptability CRA-ACM experimental fields located at duced from the INRA-CIRAD (Center INRA to different pedoclimatic conditions. Fonti Ciane in Siracusa (Sicily, Italy). Seedling de Corse, San Giuliano, Italy) in the late Long periods of research are required to selection was performed for nucellar embry- 1970s. Seedlings grafted in the spring of the verify the presence of these characteristics. ony, plant vigor, tolerance to ‘‘mal secco,’’ and previous year were planted in 1996 on an Rootstock alternatives to sour orange include tolerance to Phytophthorae spp. (De Simone experimental orchard at the AGRIS Sardegna ‘Troyer’ and ‘Carrizo’ citranges yielded by a et al., 1998; Reforgiato Recupero et al., 1997; (Department of Wood and Fruit Tree cross performed in 1909 (Webber, 1948); the Reforgiato Recupero and Russo, 1992). Research) in Uta (UT) (southern Sardinia, rootstock C 35 selected in 1951 (Cameron In this article, we report on the behavior of Italy). some of these hybrids tested with other citrus The same planting distances were used rootstocks in Sicily and Sardinia. The culti- in all experiments (6 · 4 m) following a Received for publication 26 Nov. 2008. Accepted vars grafted on the rootstock under compar- completely randomized block design with 15 for publication 18 Feb. 2009. ison included ‘Washington’ navel orange and replications and a single tree plot for ‘Tar- 1To whom reprint requests should be addressed; ‘SRA 92’ clementine in Sardinia and ‘Tar- occo TDV’, 11 for ‘Washington’ navel, and e-mail [email protected]. occo’ orange in Sicily. 10 for ‘SRA 92’. HORTSCIENCE VOL. 44(3) JUNE 2009 595 Table 1. List of common, botanical names and code of rootstocks tested for ‘Tarocco’ orange at Palazzelli provided by one microjet supplier (function- and for ‘Washington’ navel orange and ‘SRA 92’ clementine at UTA (CA). ing at 80 L/h) per tree. Common name Latin name Code The cumulative yield from the ‘Tarocco 68 IG 26-C1 F1-P6z C. latipes (Swing.) Tan. · F1 P6 TDV’ trees was measured over 6 years (2003 Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. to 2008) (Table 2); the cumulative yield 68 IG 26-C1 F2-P12z C. latipes · P. trifoliata F2 P12 from the ‘Washington’ navel (Table 3) and 68 IG 26-C1 F3-P7z C. latipes · P. trifoliata F3 P7 ‘SRA 92’ trees (Table 4) was recorded over 10 68 IG 26-C1 F4-P2y C. latipes · P. trifoliata F4 P2 z,y,x years (1998 to 2007). Yield effectiveness of 68 IG 26-C1 F4-P6 C. latipes · P. trifoliata F4 P6 the canopy was calculated as the ratio of 68 IG 26-C1 F5-P12z,y,x C. latipes · P. trifoliata F5 P12 z cumulative yield to canopy volume for the last 68 IG 26-C1 F5-P3 C. latipes · P. trifoliata F5P3 2 68 IG 26-C1 F6-P2z C. latipes · P. trifoliata F6 P2 year, calculated as V = 0.5238 · h · d (h = plant 68 IG 26-C1 F6-P12z C. latipes · P. trifoliata F6 P12 height; d = plant lateral mean diameter). 68 IG 26-C1 F6-P13z,y,x C. latipes · P. trifoliata F6 P13 To measure the yield, the crop of each tree 68 IG 26-C1 1 F6-P17z C. latipes · P. trifoliata F6 P17 was harvested and weighed. Fruit quality 68 IG 26-C1 1 F6-P20x C. latipes · P. trifoliata F 6P20 parameters were determined as the mean of 69 LTXAM-C1 F8-P3x C. latipes · C. aurantium L. F8 P3 4 years (Tables 5–7). Samples were obtained 69 LTXAM-C1 F13-P23z, y C. latipes · C. aurantium F13 P23 z during the third week of January for ‘Tarocco 69 LTXAM-C1 F14-P37 C. latipes · C. aurantium F14 P37 TDV’ and ‘Washington’ navel and during the Sour orangez,y,x C. aurantium SO Christian trifoliate orangez P. trifoliata CPT second week of December for the ‘SRA 92’ Large Flowered trifoliate orangez P. trifoliata LPT clementine. After the harvest, 20 fruit samples Swingle citrumeloz,y,x C. paradisi Macf. · P. trifoliata SC were obtained from each tree and then Carrizo citrangez,y,x C. sinensis · P. trifoliata CC weighed. Fruit diameter was measured and Troyer citrangez C. sinensis · P. trifoliata TC then the fruit was halved and rind thickness Cleopatra mandarin · trifoliate orange 30573z C.