Advances in citrus propagation in Brazil

Abstract

Citriculture is an important agricultural activity worldwide, occupying a relevant position in Brazil among fruit tree production for both the fresh fruit market and the processing industry for concentrated orange juice export. Recent advances in the country’s citrus nursery tree production system have been essential to guarantee the efficiency and competitiveness of Brazilian citriculture. The implementation of strict laws and regulations to produce trees in protected environments and improvements in production techniques for basic citrus propagation materials and nursery trees in São Paulo state has excluded the insect vectors of destructive diseases such as citrus variegated chlorosis and huanglongbing, making this an innovative reference system for citrus propagation around the globe. The main aspects of these advances are presented and discussed in this review, including advances in propagation techniques, scion and rootstock selection, genetic characterization and certification, tree size standards, cultural practices such as irrigation and fertilization for the production of citrus propagation materials and nursery trees, and nursery management tools.