Polyploid rootstocks in citrus for mitigation of biotic and abiotic stresses: A review

Abstract

Citrus is growing commercially worldwide for its nutritious value and economical aspects. By 2030, citrus fruit demand will be more around 50 percent as human diet. However, the environmental stresses are badly affected citrus production and productivity as well as fruit quality. These factors are reduced citrus production by 30-60 per cent in traditional citrus growing area in the world due to the lack of suitable rootstocks. The polyploidy rootstocks can play pivotal role to mitigate the environmental impacts and sustainability in citriculture for vigor and fruit quality. Polyploid citrus rootstocks have great importance in crop improvement programmes due to their attributes to the higher vigor, dwarfism, resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses when compared to their diploid counterparts. They exhibit deep and thick root system with less number of secondary roots, more ABA synthesis, leathery and thick leaves, bigger sized stomata with less density, high antioxidant system etc. In the present paper, an attempt has been made to elucidate and discuss the importance of polyploidy rootstocks developed so far for various horticultural traits in citrus.