Yield, fruit quality, and survival of 'Pêra' sweet orange on eight rootstocks in tropical cohesive soils

Inácio De Barros,Eduardo Augusto Girardi,Walter Dos Santos Soares Filho,Adenir Vieira Teodoro,Orlando Sampaio Passos,Luciana Marques De Carvalho,Hélio Wilson Lemos De Carvalho

doi:10.1590/s1678-3921.pab2021.v56.02151

Inácio De Barros, Eduardo Augusto Girardi + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1678-3921.pab2021.v56.02151

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Abstract

Abstract: The objective of this work was to determine the influence of eight rootstocks on the yield, fruit quality, and survival of 'Pêra CNPMF D6' sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) trees grown under rainfed conditions in a cohesive soil of the Brazilian Northeast. In 2014-2018, the yield, fruits, and survival of trees planted in 1997 were evaluated in a randomized complete block design. Yield was assessed using annual fruit production, yield efficiency, and the alternate bearing index. Tree survival was considered the percentage of plants that remained alive until 2018. Fruit quality was evaluated by physicochemical attributes. 'Cravo' confirmed its good yield performance. Despite the lower number of trees, the 'Mazoe' rough lemon rootstock induced the highest fruit yield. The 'Cravo' x 'Cleópatra' hybrid and 'Volkameriano' lemon favored the highest trees survival, whereas 'Indio' citrandarin and 'Cravo' lime resulted in intermediate levels. The 'San Diego' and 'Riverside' citrandarins induced shorter tree with a high yield efficiency and a higher alternate bearing index, respectively. Fruits with less juice and mass were induced, respectively, by 'Riverside' citrandarin and 'Volkameriano' lemon. It can be concluded that the 'Mazoe' rootstock induces a higher fruit yield and 'Cravo' x 'Cleópatra' and 'Volkameriano', a greater survival. In addition, all rootstocks, except 'Riverside' and 'Volkameriano', induce fruit that meet the minimum quality requirements.

Highlights

Brazil holds about 23% of the world’s production of sweet oranges [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] and more than half of its juice production (FAO, 2020)
The objective of this work was to determine the influence of eight rootstocks on the yield, fruit quality, and survival of 'Pêra CNPMF D6' sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) trees grown under rainfed conditions in a cohesive soil of the Brazilian Northeast
In the Northeast, sweet oranges are mainly cultivated by smallholders under rainfed conditions in cohesive soils that are highly susceptible to seasonal drought, which contributes to low yields (Martins et al, 2016)

Summary

Introduction

Brazil holds about 23% of the world’s production of sweet oranges [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] and more than half of its juice production (FAO, 2020). About 90% of the citrus orchards in Northeastern Brazil use the combination of 'Pêra CNPMF D6' sweet orange grafted onto 'Cravo' lime (Prudente et al, 2004; Amorim et al, 2018) This rootstock has excellent agronomical characteristics, including the induction of early production and drought tolerance, but is susceptible to diseases such as citrus decline or blight and citrus sudden death, which reduce fruit yields and shorten orchard longevity (Pompeu Junior & Blumer, 2019). For this reason, there is an increasing recognition of the risks posed by using a single rootstock for 'Pêra' sweet orange orchards (Sampaio et al, 2016; Amorim et al, 2018)

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