Performance evaluation of common clementine on various citrus rootstocks

Common clementine (Citrus clementine Hort. Ex Tan.) was budded on nine rootstocks i.e. Kryder trifoliate orange, Towne trifoliate orange, Rich trifoliate orange, Beneke trifoliate orange, Holansis trifoliate orange, AA18 trifoliate orange, Gou Tou sour orange, Da Hong Pao mandarin and Carrizo citrange and transplanted in field during 1992. The budded plants flowered in 1996 and these were evaluated for fruit yield and quality over a period of 12 years (1996–2007). Fruit yield was inconsistent with great variation when clementine scions were grafted on Gou Tou sour orange and Da Hong Pao mandarin. The rootstock Carrizo citrange resulted in significantly higher and Da Hong Pao mandarin in significantly lower average fruit yields for the last four years of trail. However, Holansis trifoliate orange gave maximum percentage of large sized fruits, followed by Kryder trifoliate orange and Towne trifoliate orange. Significantly higher percentage for medium sized fruits was recorded in case of Da Hong Pao mandarin, followed by Gou Tou sour orange. Maximum average fruit weight was recorded for Kryder trifoliate orange and Holansis trifoliate orange, followed by Towne trifoliate orange, Rich trifoliate orange, AA18 trifoliate orange, Beneke trifoliate orange, Carrizo citrange and Da Hong Pao mandarin. Juice percentage in clementine fruits was significantly higher for Carrizo citrange and all the trifoliate orange rootstocks except AA18 trifoliate orange which stood at par with Gou Tou sour orange and Da Hong Pao mandarin. Total soluble solids were also significantly higher for all the trifoliate orange rootstocks followed by the Carrizo citrange. No significant differences were found for acidity content of the juice for the rootstocks used. However, TSS: acidity was significantly higher for Carrizo citrange, followed by Kryder trifoliate orange and Towne trifoliate orange. These results indicated that Carrizo citrange performed better as compared to other rootstocks while Da Hong Pao mandarin and Gou Tou sour orange were not suitable rootstocks for common clementine.

► Common clementine was evaluated for yield and fruit quality on nine rootstocks.
► Carrizo citrange performed better as compared to other rootstocks.
► Clementine yield was inconsistent on Gou Tou sour orange and Da Hong Pao mandarin.