ISHS Acta Horticulturae 349: V International Symposium on Orchard and Plantation Systems
HIGH DENSITY CITRUS PLANTATION - THE USE OF FLYING DRAGON TRIFOLIATE AS AN INTERSTOCK. |
| Authors: | S. Ashkenazi, Z. Asor, O. Rosenberg |
| Abstract:
Flying dragon (FD) (Poncirus trifoliata Var monstrosa) is the only known "true dwarfing rootstock" for citrus trees. However, the rate of growth of the young plant is slow, and the size of a bearing tree, is usually too small. Thus, achieving high yields per unit area, requires high density planting, which is involved with a very high initial investment. Two trials aimed at: a) reducing plant number per unit area by getting a medium size tree, and b) accelerating its growth and coming into bearing, have been conducted: a) FD as an interstock, either viroid-free or inoculated by CEV complex. Six year-old Star Ruby grapfruit trees (C. paradisi Mac.) budded directly on Swingle citrumelo (C. paradisi x P. trifoliata) compared with the same scion-rootstock combination plus FD interstock. The relative values (per cent) for tree volume of Star Ruby budded directly on Swingle citrumelo, Star Ruby on Swingle with FD interstock, or Star Ruby directly on FD were 100%, 65.3%, 45.8% and 14.7%, respectively. b) A variation of the Froilich-Brokaw method of Avocado propagation. This method was used after planting, to accelerate the initial growth and coming into bearing of FD budded plants. The relative values (per cent) for tree volume of 4-years-old 'Michal' mandarin (C. reticulata) trees budded directly on FD, or budded on sour orange (C. aurantium) with FD interstock were 67.2% and 100%, respectively. | |
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