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Fruits > Citrus>
Propagation
In India citrus trees are propagated both by
seeds and vegetative means. Seed propagation is
still practiced in the case of acid limes and
to produce rootstocks for budding purposes. Shield
or T budding is the most commonly used method
of vegetative propagation. Budding is generally
done either in spring or in September.
Sheild or T Budding
In this method of propagation, a bud from desired
variety (scion) is transferred on the rootstock
with an objective of utilising the vigorous root
system of the rootstock and combining the best
characters of both. A plump, but not too elongated
bud is selected from the middle section of the
scion shoot. It is removed by making an incision
around the bud with the help of sharp budding
knife. On the selected rootstock T-shaped incision
is made just enough to accommodate the bud. The
bud is inserted in the incision and tied with
a strip of plastic film in such a way that the
tip of the eye remains open. Budding should be
preferably done as low as possible on the rootstock.
It takes three to four weeks for the bud to unite
when the new shoot from the grafted bud is about
10 cm long the top portion of the stalk above
the union is cut off and the plastic film is removed.
For budding, proper selection of the rootstock
is very important as it contributes to the vigour,
productivity and quality of fruits. It also influences
resistance and tolerance to certain diseases and
pests and plays a major role on agro climatic
adaptation
| Rootstock
Characters |
Characters
|
| Rough
lemon |
Suitable
for light (sandy) and infertile soil, resistant
to Tristeza virus. But it is most susceptible
to cold and induces poor quality fruit |
| Sour
orange |
Suitable
for silty, clayey and poorly aerated soils
, improves the fruit quality and has high
sugar and acid content, improve the fruit
size |
| Cleopatra
mandarin |
Suitable
for heavy soils |
| Trifoliate
orange |
Cold tolerant,
improves the fruit quality and has High sugar
and acid content, hasten fruit maturity and
the fruit size. It also induces precocity.
Resistant to Citrus nematode (Tylenchulus
semipenetrans). It is ideal for high density
plantations. |
| Sweet
lime |
It gives
high yield in early age followed by reduction
in the yield later on. Also it is most susceptible
to cold and induce poor fruit quality |
| Sour
lime |
Most susceptible
to cold |
| Rootstock
|
Characters
|
| Rough
lemon(Jambheri) |
Vigorous
rootstock. Induce poor fruit quality and resistant
to Tristeza virus and drought and salt tolerant
|
| Sweet
lime |
Give high
yield in early age followed by reduction in
the yield |
| Citranges
|
Resistant
to Citrus nematode (Tylenchulus semipenetrans
|
| Rangpur
lime |
Tolerant
to Phytophthora foot rot and resistant to
Tristeza virus , Drought and salt tolerant
|
| Sweet
orange |
Resistant
to Tristeza virus |
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