Fruit quality and yield efficiency of ‘Lima’ orange trees budded onto ‘Trifoliate’ rootstock, under irrigation conditions

Abstract

Poncirus trifoliate is a rootstock that reduces size of some citrus varieties and may allow high-density plantings under specifics environments and management. The aim of this work was to evaluate P. trifoliata as rootstock for sweet orange ‘Lima’ when grown under irrigation in environmental conditions on Brazil, in the Northwest of State of Rio de Janeiro. ‘Lima’ orange budded on ‘Rangpur’ lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck) was used as control. The experiment was carried out under completely randomized experimental design, which treatments were constituted by rootstocks varieties and evaluations times. Plant size, fruit yield, and yield efficiency were evaluated in two harvests seasons. Fruit quality was assessed at four times during 2011 harvest. Canopy volume of ‘Lima’ onto Trifoliate reduces over 56% and fruits were smaller in size but they have greatest values of total solid soluble. Yield efficiency in these plants was 39% higher in contrast with plants grafted on ‘Rangpur’ lime. This scion/rootstock combination may allow high-density plantings in irrigated system.