Alemow ( Citrus macrophylla Wester) — a dwarfing rootstock for old-line ‘Temple’ mandarin ( Citrus temple Hort. ex. Tan.)

Abstract

Alemow ( Citrus macrophylla Wester) was compared with six other rootstocks as a rootstock for old-line ‘Temple’ mandarin-like citrus cultivar ( Citrus temple Hort. ex. Tan.). The highest cumulative yields during 1976–1990 were produced by trees on the rootstocks: sour orange ( Citrus aurantium L.) and Cleopatra mandarin ( Citrus reshnii Hort. ex Tan.), however, trees on alemow rootstock showed precocity, dwarfing and high canopy efficiency. Trees on Carrizo citrange rootstock ( Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck × Poncirus trifoliata [L.] Raf.) suffered from lime induced chlorosis, salinity, and citrus exocortis viroid. Trees on Poorman rootstock ( Citrus grandis [L.] Osbeck hybrid?) showed considerable variability in performance. In trees on alemow, total soluble solids concentration and acid in fruit were higher than on the rootstocks rough lemon ( Citrus jambhiri Lush.) and Volkameriana ( Citrus volkameriana Chapot), but lower than on Carrizo, Cleopatra mandarin and sour orange rootstocks. Alemow is recommended as a dwarfing rootstock for old-line ‘Temple.’