ROOTSTOCK EFFECTS ON THE YIELDS, TREE AND FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MANDARIN CULTIVAR ‘CLEMENTINE’ ON THE ISLAND OF RHODES

Abstract

The effects of ten rootstocks on tree development, leaf nutrient levels, fruit internal quality and yield were studied. Plantings of the mandarin cultivar ‘clementine’ were established at the Agricultural Research Station of Rhodes on the rootstocks Cleopatra mandarin, Troyer and Carrizo citranges, rough lemon, Palestine sweet lime, Volkameriana, Citrus macrophylla, Rangpur lime and C. moi with sour orange as a standard for comparison. Data indicated that rootstocks significantly influenced tree development and fruit quality characteristics as well as foliar nutrient concentrations. The largest trees were on Volkameriana and the smallest on the two citranges. In terms of trunk cross-sectional area, the most vigorous trees were on C. moi and the least on Palestine sweet lime and the two citranges. Cleopatra mandarin, the two citranges, and Palestine sweet lime showed a tendency to biennial bearing. The highest cumulative yield of clementine trees was on C. macrophylla and Volkameriana and the lowest on Troyer and Carrizo citrange. C. macrophylla and Volkameriana produced the most efficient trees with the largest and heaviest thin-skinned almost seedless fruit. Fruit on C. macrophylla produced the highest juice content but also the lowest concentration of total soluble solids. Differences were observed in leaf nutrient contents between the rootstocks. These trials showed that C. macrophylla and Volkameriana could be used successfully as alternatives rootstocks to sour orange.