Horticultural and economic impact of rootstocks on fresh-market 'Marsh' grapefruit

Abstract

A rootstock trial with a 'Marsh' grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.) scion was established in the flatwoods of the Florida east coast Indian River region in 1990. The trees were planted in an Alfisol of the Pineda series. The trial consisted of trees on 16 rootstocks, primarily citranges [C. sinensis (L.) Osb. × Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.], citrumelos (C. paradisi × P. trifoliata), mandarins (C. reticulata Blanco) and various hybrids, in three or six replicates of three-tree plots in a randomized complete block design. Tree growth and survival, yield, and juice quality were measured annually or periodically for 10 years. In three seasons, whole-tree crops were sized in the field. Using the fruit size distribution data, crop value or income/tree was estimated. Tree height after 10 years ranged from 1.7 to 4.1 m and survival was greater than 90% with a few exceptions. Mean cumulative yield was 1202 kg/tree and ranged from 649 (Hamlin + Flying Dragon trifoliate orange) to 1615 kg/tree for a hybrid of trifoliate orange × Milam. At tree age 9 years, mean soluble solids production was 3594 kg·ha-1 with a 240% difference between the lowest and highest value. There were differences in the distribution of four commercial-sized categories based on analysis of individual sizes and using PROC FREQ to examine and compare whole-tree distributions. When the yield and fruit size data were combined for 3 years and converted to income/tree using commercial Florida Freight On Board prices in November and March, the trees on a trifoliate orange × Milam hybrid (1584) had the highest estimated income ($354 U.S., March data) followed by Calamandarin ($321) and Norton citrange ($292). The lowest income/tree was $112 (Hamlin + Flying Dragon trifoliate orange). When all data were considered, the best matches to current grower interest in smaller sized trees, and high yield and fruit quality, were the hybrid 1584 and C-35 citrange rootstocks.