Degree days, phenology and fruit quality of ‘Tahiti IAC-5’ acid lime grafted onto different rootstocks in Pindorama - SP

Abstract

Abstract Few rootstock varieties are used for ‘Tahiti’ acid lime; therefore, diversification is necessary and studying the phenological phases of new scion/rootstock combinations is important for orchard management strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different rootstocks on the sum of degree days (DD) and on the phenology of plants and also on the quality of ‘Tahiti’ acid lime fruits, in Pindorama, SP. Six branches were marked on plants grafted onto 13 citrandarins (H), ‘Rangpur’ lime (RL), ‘Flying Dragon’ trifoliate orange (FD) and ‘Sunki’ mandarin (SM). Phenological characterization (anthesis to harvest) was performed using a grading scale. DD accumulation (anthesis to harvest) was determined considering the base temperature of 13 °C. Physical (weight, height and diameter, juice yield) and chemical (acidity, total soluble solids and ratio) characteristics of fruits were also evaluated. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with three replicates and one plant per plot. The rootstocks under study influenced DD accumulation and phenology, with early (H5, H73, H121, H135, H145, H152, FD - 1,558 at 1,676 DD and 135 to 146 days) and later combinations (H10, H14, H42, H47, H70, H150, H173, RL and SM - 1,694 to 1,829 DD and 148 to 157 days) regarding fruit maturation. The harvest point of ‘Tahiti’ acid lime fruits grafted onto H145 citrandarin and FD was advanced about 20 days in relation to the standard rootstock, RL. Total soluble solids content and fruit size were influenced by rootstocks; however, all scion/rootstock combinations presented fruits with quality characteristics within commercial standards.

Keywords

• Citrus × latifolia
• citrandarin
• ‘Rangpur’ lime
• Poncirus trifoliata ‘Flying Dragon