Vol. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

Author(s):
C Rajamanickam, K Sundaraiya, B Muralidharan, A Baskaran and T Sumathi

Abstract:
The present field experiment on the effect of different citrus rootstocks on growth characters of acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swangle) var. PKM-1 was conducted at Citrus Research Station, Vannikonenthal, Sankarankovil Taluk, Tirunelveli district during 2021-2022. The objective of the present experiment is to evaluate the different types of citrus rootstocks on growth traits of acid lime and to identify the appropriate rootstock for enhancing the growth and yield under Tirunelveli conditions. Seven numbers of rootstocks such as Citrus macrophylla (Alemow), Citrus limonia (Rangpur lime), Poncirus trifoliate (Trifoliate orange), Citrus aurantium (Sour orange), Citrus jambhiri (Rough lemon), Citrus madraspatana (Kichili) and Citrus pennivesiculata (Gajanimma) were used for this study and budded on variety PKM -1. Fifty numbers of rootstocks were used for each treatment. ‘T’budding was done during the months of November and December and budded plants were maintained in nursery. In the present study results showed that various rootstocks had significant effect on growth traits of acid lime. PKM-1 acid lime budded on rangpur lime rootstock recorded the highest values in growth traits such as budding success percentage (64.40%), survival percentage (90.0%), plant height (97.50 cm), shoot length (52.25 cm), number of leaves per plant (82.30) and stem thickness (3.50 cm³) followed by rough lemon rootstock (58.20%; 90.00%; 84.10 cm; 48.40 cm; 51.20; 2.80 cm³) whereas the lowest values were found in rootstock kichili (Citrus madraspadanas) (28.00%; 30.0%; 47.50 cm; 22.30 cm; 22.60; 2.52 cm³). In the case of main field planting, PKM-1 acid lime registered the highest values for the growth characters such as transplanting successes percentage (100%), tree height (1.60 m), stem girth (24.8 cm), canopy spread (2.10 m E-W; 2.10 m N-S), canopy volume (1.01 m³), number of branches per plant (4.1) and shoot length (1.90 m) whereas the lowest values were noticed in kitchili rootstock. Hence the present study it was concluded that Rangpur lime rootstock showed vigorous effect on acid lime var. PKM-1 as compared with rough lemon, sour orange, Kichili, Alemov, Gajanimma, Trifoliate orange rootstocks.